There is no evidence of women involving themselves in the extremist militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) as comfort women, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

“It is merely a rumour,” Zahid said yesterday in a written reply to DAP Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, who asked if Malaysian women were involved in the activities of Isis, including the jihad al-nikah .

Jihad al-nikah is volunteers offering themselves as comfort women to Islamist fighters attempting to establish Islamic rule in the Middle East.

Zahid admitted the police have identified 39 Malaysians who are believed to be involved with Isis, including one woman.

“The woman is believed to be married to one of the militants,” he said, dispelling rumours that she was offering herself as a comfort woman.

Lim also asked under what laws the 39 Malaysians would be charged if they returned to Malaysia.

“I am not planning to settle on a specific law to charge them with.

“However, if there is solid evidence that these people have involved themselves with the militant movement, the government will take action based on several existing laws,” Zahid said.

The laws include Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001, Societies Act 1966 and the Penal Code.