Dear Mrs. Federica Mogherini,
The people of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are the main and direct victims of the atrocities and crimes of ISIS since the establishment of this terrorist group. Some of these victims have left their country of origin because of threat of ISIS and other terrorist organizations for their lives and freedom. These victims have got refuge in some Member Sates of the European Union, but suffer still under the traumatic experiences they have from ISIS atrocities in their country of origin. Since 2014 are ISIS affiliated terrorists active in Afghanistan. In recent two years, ISIS survivors of the wars in Iraq and Syria have found their way to Afghanistan. According to the Afghan and international reports, ISIS fighters hiding in Afghanistan become a serious threat to the security of Afghanistan and even the national security of EU and US. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s annual report, ISIS together with the Taliban and 20 other terrorist organizations have
made Afghanistan officially the least peaceful country in the world and the site of the most violent conflict. That is why we are shocked by the news about recent repatriation of a couple of the sons of ISIS fighters by some EU Member States and ongoing activities and discussion about state sponsored repatriation of more of them.
On the basis of the following reasons, the Afghan community in Europe is concerned about the recent moves to repatriate the families of ISIS members who are allegedly killed during the war:
– Those refugees who are direct or indirect victim of the atrocities of ISIS will be re-victimized if they confront the sons of the allegedly killed members of ISIS in their daily live in EU territory.
– Victims of ISIS get not the chance of asking for asylum within the EU. They and their families have to wait the long process in external borders of the EU. But the same authorities fly to Rojava to pick up the ISIS boys, who have been, reportedly, active in atrocities from the age of 12.
– The number of them only in Al Hol camp within the territory of Northeastern Syria (NES) is at least 1200 out of 74000 of the detainees in this camp. Having these numbers in mind, there is a certain risqué for national security of Member States if the process of repatriating them continues.
– Many of these women and boys are themselves suspect of participating in ISIS atrocities. As the crimes have taken place elsewhere and burden of prove in European courts are too high to apply on cases committed in other continents. Applying European norms on crimes committed in Asia in a warlike situation is practically not helpful for the cause of justice for victims. Lastly, it will be not an easy task to investigate and trail the women and boys of ISIS fighters in EU Member States. An international tribunal for ISIS members and their families in the Middle East can be a realistic option to protect the possible innocents and convict the guilty.
FAROE request seriously the EU Commission and the relevant authorities of the EU Member States to take account of ISIS victims, residing in their countries, before taking any decision on the destiny of the families of ISIS members.