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A DUTCH teenager whose mother helped bring her back from Syria is due to appear in court on suspicion of threatening state security.

The 19-year-old, known as Aicha, was arrested when she returned to her home city of Maastricht on Wednesday.

Aicha, a recent convert to Islam, is believed to have travelled to the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Raqqa in Syria to marry a fighter there.

Her mother Monique helped return her to the Netherlands and is not a suspect.

Aicha is one of a small number of European teenage girls and women who have gone to Syria and Iraq in recent months.

Some are believed to have travelled for ideological reasons, while others have reportedly married fighters, including those fighting with IS.

Friday's court hearing, which will take place behind closed doors, will determine how long Aicha can be detained.

The prosecution is expected to ask the judge to extend the time that Aicha can be held while they examine evidence.

A public hearing is expected in three months, court officials told the BBC.

In that time, Aicha has been banned from speaking to members of her family, apart from her mother, as well as the media.

Dutch media report that Aicha left the Netherlands in February to marry Omar Yilmaz, a Dutch-Turkish fighter who had once served in the Dutch military. He describes himself as a part-time aid worker, trainer and fighter, though it is not known exactly which group he fights with.

He told the BBC's Anna Holligan on Wednesday that he had married the Dutch teenager after another fighter she was due to marry was killed.

"It didn't work, we split. She went her way, I went my way," he said.

Aicha's mother then travelled to the Turkey-Syria border to rescue her and bring her back, against the advice of the Dutch government.

There are conflicting reports over whether Monique entered Syria or met her daughter at the Turkish border.
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