Death sentences handed out as Isil crumbles
Caliphate suspects facing severe penalties as Iraq takes back 20,000 who crossed to fight in Syria
IRAQ is to take back 20,000 nationals captured as they left Isil areas in Syria as local authorities warn they are struggling with the burden of foreign jihadists. The number includes women and children as well as some fighters, officials from the Red Cross said.
Most are being held in al Hol camp in Kurdish northern Syria, where authorities are trying to host 65,000 who fled Baghuz – the final stronghold of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
More than 100 have died in the camps or on route to them, including the three-week old son of Shamima Begum, the 19-year-old runaway schoolgirl from Bethnal Green, east London.
Fabrizio Carboni, of the Red Cross, said: “A significant number of people are of Iraqi origin. We are talking about 20,000, including women and children.”
He said that although the Iraqi government wants to bring them back it was difficult because many are seen as a security threat. “It means they will have to go through a screening process.”
Western-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are holding 4,000 noniraqi foreigners with links to Isil, as well as their children. They warned it did not have the resources to hold them for much longer and urged allies to take responsibility. Britain and other European countries have so far refused to repatriate their citizens, saying they pose a security risk.
Iraq has shown little leniency to Isil suspects. At trials in Baghdad and Mosul hundreds of detainees were handed lengthy sentences and in some cases the death penalty.
Some foreign women were given 20year sentences simply for following their husbands to the so-called caliphate. Baghdad’s court is currently hearing the cases of 14 French men who were handed over by the SDF.
A report last week by Human Rights Watch also revealed that Iraq is holding 1,500 children in jail on suspicion of links to Isil. More than 150 were charged, often based on confessions obtained through torture, it said.
The battle for Baghuz, meanwhile, looked set to continue for days as the SDF made small advances between long pauses to allow women and children to leave and men to lay down their arms.
“We could take it in one night. But the strategy is to press Isil to let their civilians out, not to storm the place,” said Behzat Cudi, a unit commander. “So, we attack and give them a chance to surrender.”
SDF troops launched a raid on Sunday night that finally concluded yesterday after fighting among tents and fox holes often occupied by women and children as well as Isil fighters and suicide bombers. Mr Cudi said it was often impossible to use coalition air support.
Another commander said that the remaining area could conceal 2,000 Isil fighters and civilians, though with a reported 2,000 fighters surrendering yesterday it was unclear how many were left. During the battle for Baghuz the SDF and coalition said they had underestimated the number left in the pocket.