ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — France could repatriate some ISIS suspects in Syria, jailing and prosecuting them on their return, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Tuesday.
Nearly 130 French nationals have been detained by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), BMFTV reported after their interview with Castaner. The SDF are the partnered ground force of the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition.
Those being held in Syria include men and women suspected of fighting or supporting ISIS.
The French Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued after the minister’s interview, said it could not confirm the 130 number, but said it was exploring options for what to do with their nationals in light of the potential risk to France’s security if the situation destabilizes in northern Syria when US troops pull out.
"Given the development of the military situation in northeast Syria, the American decisions, and to ensure the security of the French, we are examining all options to avoid the escape and scattering of these potentially dangerous individuals," the ministry stated, AFP reported.
"If the forces who are guarding the French fighters took the decision to expel them to France they would be immediately placed in the hands of the law," it added.
The ministry stressed it would prosecute its citizens who joined ISIS, but did not commit to actively repatriating them.
Castaner, a lawyer by trade, added that some of the suspected ISIS members have already returned to Syria and are incarcerated.
More than 500 nationals are in pre-trial detention or prison on charges of ISIS membership, the report detailed.
Prosecution of suspected ISIS members varies greatly by nationality. Some countries have preferred repatriation, others to be tried locally in Iraq or Syria, and others in military courts. A lack of evidence of specific crimes and movements has also been a barrier to justice in Western courts.
France’s policy to date, like many Western nations, has been to resist taking responsibility for their nationals detained by the SDF in Syria, to the regret of the local administration who say they will not prosecute foreigners and cannot hold them indefinitely.
The United States, United Kingdom, and France comprise the bulk of coalition ground forces in Syria.
Nearly 130 French nationals have been detained by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), BMFTV reported after their interview with Castaner. The SDF are the partnered ground force of the US-led international anti-ISIS coalition.
Those being held in Syria include men and women suspected of fighting or supporting ISIS.
The French Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued after the minister’s interview, said it could not confirm the 130 number, but said it was exploring options for what to do with their nationals in light of the potential risk to France’s security if the situation destabilizes in northern Syria when US troops pull out.
"Given the development of the military situation in northeast Syria, the American decisions, and to ensure the security of the French, we are examining all options to avoid the escape and scattering of these potentially dangerous individuals," the ministry stated, AFP reported.
"If the forces who are guarding the French fighters took the decision to expel them to France they would be immediately placed in the hands of the law," it added.
The ministry stressed it would prosecute its citizens who joined ISIS, but did not commit to actively repatriating them.
Castaner, a lawyer by trade, added that some of the suspected ISIS members have already returned to Syria and are incarcerated.
More than 500 nationals are in pre-trial detention or prison on charges of ISIS membership, the report detailed.
Prosecution of suspected ISIS members varies greatly by nationality. Some countries have preferred repatriation, others to be tried locally in Iraq or Syria, and others in military courts. A lack of evidence of specific crimes and movements has also been a barrier to justice in Western courts.
France’s policy to date, like many Western nations, has been to resist taking responsibility for their nationals detained by the SDF in Syria, to the regret of the local administration who say they will not prosecute foreigners and cannot hold them indefinitely.
The United States, United Kingdom, and France comprise the bulk of coalition ground forces in Syria.
Updated at 5:42 pm
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