ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq plans to transfer about 100 suspected Islamic State (ISIS) families from al-Hol in northeast Syria (Rojava) to a camp south of Mosul within days.
The group, about 700 individuals, will be brought across the border on May 2 and taken to al-Jada camp, Sherwan Alduberdany, head of the Iraqi parliament’s Regions and Governorates Committee, told Rudaw English on Friday. More will follow.
"IOM has prepared 500 tents currently to receive ISIS families in al-Jada 1 camp,” said Alduberdany, referring to the International Organization for Migration.
Baghdad has “agreed to return more than 2000 so far,” he added.
About half of al-Hol’s 61,000 residents are Iraqis, the majority are children, and most are family members of suspected ISIS fighters who were brought to the camp from the battlefield in Deir ez-Zor province two years ago. Conditions in the tent encampment are harsh and security is a problem. Authorities conducted a sweeping operation of the camp in late March and early April after a spate of murders.
Alduberdany, representing Nineveh province, said he was worried about the security risks associated with bringing into the country people with alleged ties to the terror group.
"Most of these families had or have had children who must have been grown up now. They are studying in ISIS schools inside al-Hol camp and they are time bombs," he said, calling on other lawmakers and provincial officials to join him in opposing the transfer.
"There is a miniature Islamic State inside al-Hol camp, and there are many ISIS sleeper cells outside it, in Syria and Iraq,” said Alduberdany.
He accused the Iraqi government of lacking a clear plan for rehabilitating the suspected ISIS supporters and reintegrating them into society, especially the children.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Migration and Displacement, Ali Abbas Jahakir, said they are working on repatriating Iraqis living in al-Hol, but there is no official plan yet.
"We do not have understandings with UN organizations or the Syrian government about returning the Iraqis in al-Hol camp," Jahakir told Rudaw English on Friday.
However, Sheikhmus Ahmed, who supervises the administration of Rojava’s camps, told Rudaw English earlier in April that the Iraqi government has agreed to repatriate around 2,500 of its citizens from al-Hol and an Iraqi humanitarian organization was registering people in preparation for the move.
People from dozens of nations are living in al-Hol and Rojava authorities have repeatedly called on the international community to take responsibility for their citizens. Most Western governments are resisting bringing their nationals home, citing security risks.
