EU states say taking ISIS recruits back "not as easy" as Trump thinks

[DonViejo]

Source: CBS News/The AP


Brussels -- U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that European countries take back their citizens fighting in Syria received a mixed reaction Monday, as nations voiced concerns about how to bring home-grown ISIS extremists to trial.

The question of such foreign fighters has been a conundrum for the Europeans for several years. Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) prisoners could be exposed to torture or the death penalty if they remain in jail in Syria or Iraq, and the EU opposes the death penalty.

A senior Kurdish official told the Reuters news agency on Monday that the number of foreign fighters held by the U.S.-backed forces battling ISIS in northern Syria had swelled to at least 800, and he called on those individuals' home nations to help bear the burden.

He said the Kurdish-led SDF forces would not release the ISIS fighters, but warned that it was a "time bomb" for them to remain in overcrowded prisons in northern Syria given that opposing forces were still in the area and they could pose an attack enabling a mass-escape.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-demands-europe-isis-foreign-fighters-syria-european-trials/

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FEBRUARY 18, 2019 / 3:10 AM / UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO

France snubs Trump's appeal to repatriate IS fighters en masse, for now

PARIS (Reuters) - France will for now not act on U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for European allies to repatriate hundreds of Islamic State fighters from Syria, taking back militants on a “case-by-case” basis, its justice minister said on Monday.

U.S.-backed fighters appear poised to capture Islamic State’s last enclave in Syria and Trump on Saturday pressed France, Britain and Germany to bring home more than 800 captured Islamic State fighters and put them on trial.

Trump has sworn to pull U.S. forces from Syria after Islamic State’s territorial defeat, raising concerns in Paris and other European capitals that jihadists from their countries could disperse and try to return to their home countries.

“There is a new geo-political context, with the U.S. withdrawal. For the time being we are not changing our policy,” Belloubet told France 2 television. “At this stage France is not responding to (Trump’s) demands.”

more
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-france/france-snubs-trumps-appeal-to-repatriate-is-fighters-en-masse-for-now-idUSKCN1Q70KV

[Eugene]

1. U.S.-backed Syria force seeks help with Islamic State prisoner 'time bomb'

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 2019 / 7:37 AM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

U.S.-backed Syria force seeks help with Islamic State prisoner 'time bomb'

Ellen Francis, Philip Blenkinsop
5 MIN READ

BEIRUT/BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hundreds of foreign jihadist fighters held in Syria represent a “time bomb” and could escape and threaten the West unless countries do more to take them back, the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed authorities holding them said on Monday.

The fate of foreign fighters who joined Islamic State, as well as of their wives and children, has become more pressing in recent days as U.S.-backed fighters plan an assault to capture the last enclave of the group’s self-styled Caliphate.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday European countries must do more to take them back or “we will be forced to release them”. But European countries say there is no simple solution. Fighters must be vetted and prosecuted if they return.

“It is clearly not as easy as what has been put forward in the United States,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday ahead of a Brussels meeting with EU counterparts. “These people could only then come to Germany if we can ensure they are immediately put in custody. It’s not clear to me how all that can be guaranteed.”

Abdulkarim Omar, co-chair of foreign relations in the region held by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, said authorities there were holding some 800 foreign fighters. Around 700 of the fighters’ wives and 1,500 of their children are also in camps. Dozens more fighters and family members are arriving each day.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-islamicstate-detainees/u-s-backed-syria-force-seeks-help-with-islamic-state-prisoner-time-bomb-idUSKCN1Q715H

[Igel]

3. It's sort of their own Gitmo problem.

Except that instead of having their own, they do the moral thing--"Don't release them, don't send them back. We want you to hold our citizens indefinitely." Where the "you" refers variously to the US or to the Kurds.

Makes a lot of their self-righteous criticism over Gitmo seem less cutting. These are their own citizens they don't want to assume responsibility for, citizens that many would say it's government's job to defend, help, protect, and ensure due process for. Except that due process requires evidence that's probably lacking, not to mention jurisdiction.

Others are having a hard time, too. "Trump wants to pull out and that would allow the ISIS fighters to be released, and that would allow more ISIS fighting. We hate ISIS. The ISIS fighters need to be ... Um ... How about I back to you on that."

[christx30]

2. There is no easy answer here:

Either execute them in Syria for their crimes, ship them to Guantanamo Bay for indefinite detention, send them to their home countries for trial/imprisonment, release them into the general public, send them to an uninvolved 3rd country?

All solutions have their pros and cons. The only alternative is to leave US forces in Syria forever? I mean, that's a great plan. It sure as hell worked in Afghanistan.

[LiberalLovinLug]

4. It is a difficult quandry

They should have made clear that anyone that goes overseas to fight with ISIS or any terrorist org. will lose them their citizenship, and/or result in a lengthy prison sentence if they come home.

Barring that happened, perhaps they should enact a requirement for all returnees to be held for, say, 90 days. Where they would be interviewed, and educated, and find out which ones are salvageable. And who are the few who are still dangerous.

[oldsoftie]

5. I'm surprised there are that many prisoners to start with. ISIS always said "fight to the death"

Guess they couldnt even keep that promise