France repatriates 40 children, 15 women from camps in Syria
Al JazeeraNov 27, 2022
The Facts
On Thursday, Canada's government repatriated 14 Canadians – four women and ten children – from Islamic State (IS) detention camps in northeast Syria.
Three of the repatriated women were arrested after landing at the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport before appearing in court on a terrorism peace bond application, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said Friday.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Canadian government is concerned about the health and well-being of children held in deteriorating camps in northeastern Syria. While Canada is still dedicated to fighting IS, repatriation is an important step in resolving the humanitarian and security challenges that followed the dismantlement of the so-called caliphate. It's also the only real solution for helping foreigners who remain in detention camps, many of whom are vulnerable children.
Establishment-critical narrative
The repatriated families of IS fighters pose both a physical and ideological threat to the nations they are returned to. While children can be rehabilitated, the women who intentionally brought or raised families in the Islamic State should be held accountable for their actions by their nations of origin and charged with terrorism or other related offenses. While repatriation should happen, this shouldn't be done hastily.
