Wives and children of Iraq's ISIS fighters live in limbo

02-06-2018
Rudaw
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Tags: post-ISIS ISIS families ISIS wives
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“The world needs a plan to deal with the wives and children of the Islamic State's defeated jihadis,” said Belkis Wille last October. She is a senior researcher in Iraq for Human Rights Watch.

In Hassan Shan camp tens of Iraqi families of ISIS militants are living, not wanting to return to their homes where they fear they will face revenge from their neighbours for atrocities committed by ISIS fighters, including their husbands and fathers. 

“We will stay at this camp until Allah gives us a solution,” said Fatima whose husband had fought and died for the failed so-called caliphate. 

Ibrahim, a young boy who is now responsible for his family after his father joined ISIS hopes for a simple life. 

“I want to live here or anywhere I am allowed to live. I live with my family quietly. If there is a job for me, I will work,” he said. 

The Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) that works at Hassan Shan camp said they will support the wives and children of ISIS families as long as they need it.

“As long as these camps are here, we will continue to help. If these camps do not remain, we will try to build a camp for those who want to stay. We continue to support these people,” said BCF’s Rashid Darvish Safti.

Iraqi courts are putting on trial some 1,400 foreign women and children who surrendered to Iraqi security forces in a process that many have condemned as unfair, but foreign governments are generally not inclined to take their citizens back.  

Responding to reports that Frenchwoman Melina Boughedir was on trial in Iraq, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told LCI news this week, “She fought against Iraqi units, she is judged in Iraq.”

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