France repatriated 364 ISIS-related children from Syria, Iraq in decade 

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – France has successfully repatriated 364 children of parents associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) from Syria and Iraq over the last ten years, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Olivier Christen, France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor revealed that the children have been distributed across 59 departments in France, where they are receiving optimal care and support.

He assured that the children are under close supervision and that “no particular issues” have arisen.

“The situations are varied,” Christen explained, highlighting that the group includes both very young children and older adolescents.

Since 2019, France has also facilitated the return of 170 women from Syria and Iraq, 57 of whom were repatriated from “detention camps” in Northeast Syria. 

Of the 364 children brought back to France, “169 have returned within the past two years alone,” Christen added, underscoring the country’s ongoing efforts to address the complex challenges posed by the repatriation of families linked to ISIS.

By Jwan Shekaki