By Samer Yassin
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Repatriating families members of the Islamic State (ISIS) from Northeast Syria remains a challenge facing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) although five years have passed since the military defeat of the group in Syria.
There are about 10,000 ISIS militants in prisons held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeast Syria. Additionally, there are about 50,000 individuals of the families members of ISIS who have been detained in Hawl and Roj camps. The majority of those detainees are Syrians, Iraqis, and foreigners from more than 45 countries. The two camps are run by the Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish).
Efforts to repatriate these militants and bring them to trial remain stalled and face several challenges. Despite timid attempts by some countries like France, Russia, and Sweden to repatriate their citizens through coordination with the AANES, the situation is complicated due to security and humanitarian pressures regarding these detainees.
They still pose a threat
On March 14, Sweden announced that it would not work to repatriate Swedish citizens affiliated with ISIS held in camps or detention centers in northeastern Syria.
Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, has recently stated that his country has no legal obligation to bring these militants back to Sweden, including women, children, and men.
Munir Adib, a researcher specializing in Islamist movements, extremist organizations, and international terrorism, told North Press that the lack of response by countries to repatriate their citizens places a significant burden on the AANES, given that the issue of ISIS requires substantial international support and a state of extreme vigilance to protect these prisons from terrorist attacks.
“There were successful escape attempts by ISIS militants from prisons, and that was as a major problem for the AANES. The escape of these militants from al-Sinaa Prison, holding ISIS militants in Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria, posed a significant threat to security and stability in the region,” Adib stated.
He commented on Sweden’s announcement to halt the repatriation of its citizens, stating, “Every nation must take the responsibility on the consequences regarding the threat posed by ISIS that represents a significant danger that jeopardizes regional and global security”.
Adib attributes the Swedish decision to the fact that these countries do not impose the death penalty in their legal systems. Their belief is that even if these extremists remain in prison, they might revert to violence, thus posing a security risk.
Major challenges
Khaled Ibrahim, an official in the AANES’s Foreign Relations Department, stated to North Press that the issue of repatriating citizens to their countries faced significant obstacles and challenges.
These challenges include political, security, and legal hurdles. Notably, the Turkish attacks on northeastern Syria have significantly disrupted the states’ repatriation process for their citizens, according to Ibrahim.
Ibrahim stated that some countries are reluctant to engage directly with the AANES due to political considerations, hindering the direct coordination for repatriating their citizens.
“We have consistently called for consideration of the situation of families affiliated with ISIS, who were victimized by the extremist ideology of ISIS. However, there are several countries that have not directly addressed our appeals. It is important to note that we approach this issue from a humanitarian and ethical perspective. We have made specific procedures and protocols for the repatriation of citizens. Unfortunately, the response to these pleas has been weak. The decision by the Swedish government further complicates matters,” Ibrahim stated.
He believed that ISIS will not be eliminated unless legal and human rights paths are activated. Thousands of casualties have suffered due to this war that targeted the region and its inhabitants.
On the other hand, Adib emphasized the necessity to evacuate ISIS families from these camps. He advocated that every country should receive their citizens who are in these camps, including men, women, and children alike.
This is the sole solution to this dilemma. The reason lies in the turning of the camps inhabited by ISIS families into a hotbed for terrorism and extremism. Women in the camps still adhere to the ideology of ISIS that affects the children who are in the same place. Therefore, they pose a threat to security and peace. That matter ultimately leads to the resurgence of ISIS through these extremists, according to Adib.