Iraq says 5,703 ISIS detainees from 61 countries transferred from Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iraq’s Ministry of Justice disclosed on Saturday the nationalities of Islamic State (ISIS) detainees transferred from Syria, stating that 5,703 prisoners from 61 countries have been received.
Ministry spokesperson Mohammed al-Laibi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the total number of prisoners reached 5,703, including 4,253 Arabs and 983 foreign nationals.
Al-Laibi added that 467 of the detainees are Iraqi nationals, while 3,543 are Syrians.
He explained that halls at al-Karkh Central Prison had been prepared to receive the prisoners, noting that the detainees were classified based on a database provided to Iraq by the Global Coalition.
According to al-Laibi, the largest numbers of foreign detainees came from Morocco 187, Turkmenistan 165, Turkey 181, Tunisia 234, Russia 130, and Egypt 116.
The transfer comes amid ongoing efforts to address the issue of ISIS detainees held in Syria following the group’s territorial defeat, as regional and international actors seek long-term solutions for prosecution and repatriation.
On Friday, the United States Central Command announced the completion of its mission in Syria to transfer ISIS detainees to Iraq.