The fate of Da’esh militias detained by the SDF in Syria

ARK News: The United States and its allies are mulling along with the PYD administration in northeast Syria to set up a special international tribunal in the country to try detained Da’esh members.

The future of the thousands of ISIS militias remains uncertain as many of their home countries, mainly Germany, Britain, France, and Denmark, refuse to repatriate them.

Abdul Karim Omar, joint head of foreign relations in the PYD-led area of northeastern Syria, said that the administration has repeatedly asked the countries of militias held by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to repatriate them and put them to trial.

Despite Washington's continued demands, most European countries are hesitant in taking such action. This has compelled senior US officials to hold intense negotiations with the PYD administration on the possibility of forming an international tribunal and establishing prisons for the detainees from Da’esh, he said.

“We look forward to the international community’s coordination and cooperation with the PYD self-administration to establish the court,” Omar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He said that the fate of Da’esh militias is among the main challenges facing his administration.

Around 1,000 fighters hailing from 50 different countries are among 6,000 militants detained by the SDF. The rests are Syrians and Iraqis, he said.

Camps east of the Euphrates river are hosing around 12,000 women and children hailing from different countries, Omar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to him, children less than 10 years of age, who had been recruited by Da’esh, are among the detainees. “They will become future militias unless their governments repatriate them and rehabilitate them.”

There have been only a few cases of repatriation, he said. Giving the example of the French government’s move to take back five orphaned children of French militants from camps in northeast Syria.


Source: Asharq Al-Awsat

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