Germany brings home 12 ISIS-linked nationals from NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – German Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday the repatriation of 12 nationals, with link to the Islamic State Organization (ISIS), from a camp in northeastern Syria.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock revealed those brought home included four women, seven children and a young man who had been taken to Syria when he was 11 years old, according to DW.
On Wednesday, a German delegation topped by Consul General of Germany in Erbil Mr. Kurt Georg Stöckl-Stillfried visited northeast Syria.
The delegation was received by Fanar al-Gait, deputy co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department in Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
During the meeting in Qamishli-base Foreign Relations Department office, al-Gait praised Germany’s efforts to help in stabilizing the region.
Stillfried stressed that his country remains unchanged in its humanitarian commitments towards its nationals and that it will continue supporting the region through organizations to alleviate the burden placed on the AANES in this issue.
The 12 ISIS-linked repatriated German citizens were held in Roj Camp.
The Roj camp has been one of several detention camps in northeast Syria that held thousands of people, including many foreign nationals, since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS declared the territorial defeat of the group in March 2019.
It currently a house for 806 families, including 2.800 individuals of Arabs and foreigners, mostly women and children of ISIS family members who hail from 62 countries, according to previous reports published by North Press.
Baerbock stressed, “Children are not responsible for their parents’ fateful choices.”
The DW cited her as saying the five adults among the group were detained on the arrival in Germany and will have to “answer for their alleged actions.”
According to official documents, the total toll of German citizens of ISIS members who were repatriated from northeast Syria have reached 103 individuals, including 26 women and 76 children.
The ministry noted that some women in northeast Syria decided not to return.