Countries should repatriate ISIS foreign nationals from Syria: HRW

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – All countries with nationals detained in northeast Syria should help relocate them for rehabilitation, reintegration, and, where appropriate, prosecution, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday in a report on the ISIS attack on the Hasakah prison last month.

"The US-led coalition, United Nations bodies, and countries involved in the northeast Syria crisis should help resettle other detainees, also with prosecutions as appropriate, in third countries if they are at risk of ill-treatment in their countries of origin," HRW said in its report.

"All of these detainees should be immediately released to safety unless they are brought before an independent judge who can rule on the legality and necessity of their detention."

ISIS launched its attack on al-Sina'a prison, which holds 3,000 to 3,500 suspected terrorists, with an explosive-laden car on Jan. 20 as detainees rioted inside.

The SDF announced on Jan. 30 that it fully recaptured al-Sina'a following the surrender of the remaining ISIS fighters there.

Read More: US-led coalition says SDF cleared Hasakah prison from enemy fighters

Several European countries have shown reluctance to repatriate citizens who are suspected ISIS members due to the security risks involved as well as domestic opposition. 

The SDF and the civilian Autonomous Administration in northeast Syria have repeatedly suggested that foreign countries repatriate their citizens stuck in Syria.

Nevertheless, a number of European countries have picked up women and children from northeast Syria.

On Thursday, the Dutch government confirmed that it repatriated five Dutch women with alleged affiliations to the Islamic State (ISIS) and their 11 children.

Read More: Dutch government confirms repatriation of 5 suspected ISIS women from Syria

Moreover, on Jan. 26, Sweden repatriated two women and four children from ISIS families.