Iraq repatriates nearly 200 children of Turkish IS fighters

Iraq repatriated to Turkey 188 children of Turks accused of belonging to the Islamic State group, a capital offence in Iraq.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab & agencies

29 May, 2019

The move follows the repatriation to Tajikistan late last month of 84 children [Getty]

Iraq repatriated to Turkey on Wednesday 188 children of Turks accused of belonging to the Islamic State group, a capital offence in Iraq, the judiciary said.

The move follows the repatriation to Tajikistan late last month of 84 children of nationals convicted by Iraqi courts of membership of IS or other jihadist groups.

That came after dozens of children were flown to Russia and after France and Germany repatriated the children of women nationals detained in Iraq.

In February, US President Donald Trump demanded that European countries take back their citizens who have joined for the Islamic State group or moved to territories under its control.

"The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 [IS] fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on trial," Trump said in a tweet.

Following Trump’s comments, Germany and France issued strong rebuttals to his call, saying the request would be "extraordinarily difficult" to implement.

The Islamic State (IS) group seized large swathes of Iraq in a lightning 2014 offensive, before the Iraqi government dislodged the jihadists from urban centres and eventually declared victory in December 2017.

The fall of the Islamic State's caliphate in Iraq and Syria has left many countries grappling with what to do with the jihadists and their relatives who want to return.

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