​​​​​​​Al-Ghi'et: Security operation is not enough, international community must uphold its responsibilities

Al-Hol camp, located 45 km east of Hasakah, is a fundamental problem in northern and eastern Syria, the Middle East and the world, where nearly 60,000 people live, most of whom are families of ISIS mercenaries.

Since the geographical elimination of ISIS mercenaries in Al-Baghouz in March 2019, Al-Hol camp has witnessed assassinations on a daily basis, as thousands of ISIS families headed to the camp, and dozens of ISIS elements and leaders secretly infiltrated it.

Given the danger of the al-Hol camp, which has turned into a focus for ISIS mercenaries, and the ongoing assassinations within it; Within 3 months, more than 47 people were killed. Therefore, on March 28, the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria launched the “Humanity and Security” campaign, with the support of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the People's Protection Units and Women in the camp.

On April 2, the Internal Security Forces announced in an official statement, the end of the first phase of the "Humanity and Security" campaign, which was successful, as 125 members of ISIS cells were arrested, in addition to 20 officials responsible for cells and assassinations.

Within the al-Hol camp, there are families from 57 countries, and according to the Internal Security Forces, the vast majority of them are of the families and members of ISIS mercenaries, however, these countries do not carry out their legal and moral duties and responsibilities, and some of them have revoked their nationality.

Observers agree that the al-Hol camp is an international dilemma, whose danger in the camp has not ended yet.

Fener al-Ghi'et, Deputy Co-Chair of the Department of Foreign Relations in North and East Syria, confirmed that it is an important and thorny camp, and said: “Since the beginning of the Operation Anti-Terrorism, we have warned the world, and asked for help from all countries that have nationals within the al-Hol camp, because it is an international dilemma. On this basis, the Autonomous Administration made appeals to all countries, especially those that have nationals within the camp. "

Fener al-Ghi'et stated that the operation within Al-Hol camp is not enough to eliminate ISIS's extremist ideology, and said:

Suitable environment

He emphasized that the security operation of the military and security forces are emergency solutions, and do not serve the purpose, noting: "There is a need for international cooperation; and innocents must be returned within these camps, which are an appropriate environment for a new wave of terrorism and terrorist ideology."

He added, "Countries that have nationals within the camps must be prepared to return their nationals, and to fulfill their moral and legal duty."

He explained that the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is ready to provide all assistance for the countries that have nationals in the region.

The deputy co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department in North and East Syria, touched upon the preliminary results of the Operation “Humanity and Security”, and said: “During the operation, terrorists and leaders of ISIS mercenaries had infiltrated the camp in al-Hol camp. So the thought will remain and be fed by extremist ideas, and we will be facing a next generation of militants. "

What is Required

He confirmed their demand for countries that have nationals within the region to return their nationals, and said: “These countries must take their citizens.” He indicated that the AANES called on those countries to form an international court to prosecute ISIS mercenaries.

He pointed out that there are some international obstacles that prevent the formation of an international court, without mentioning those obstacles.

Regarding their demand to form an international court, he said: "Unfortunately, the response is still very weak, and those countries claim that their laws do not allow accountability for their citizens who commit crimes outside their countries, and some have found an opportunity to revoke their nationalities."

Britain revoked the citizenship of two British sisters in 2019 who joined ISIS mercenaries, namely Rima Iqbal, 30, and her sister Zara, 28, who left for Syria in 2013, and now they have five male children under 8, and in early 2020, Belgium followed the path of Britain and revoked the citizenship of a number of its citizens.

Revoking citizenship

He said, "We used to look at the European Union and the Scandinavian countries as respecting the law and human rights, but unfortunately we discovered that some authorities, personalities, politicians and stakeholders in these countries have another dark side, and there are some countries that failed in fulfilling their legal and moral duty."

He noted that those countries must cooperate with each other to find a legal formula that will do justice to the victims of (terrorism) in the region, and said: “We have thousands of victims of terrorism; justice must be applied to the killers and criminals. In need of international cooperation, whatever the legal arguments; there must be international humanitarian cooperation on this issue. "

He pointed out that the threat of ISIS mercenaries and their families does not concern the regions of north and east Syria only, but those countries, and said: “There are children who will grow up and innocent women who joined their husbands, so in the future they will return to their homelands. We do not have laws that prevent them from returning, and then it will be. These countries are in danger because they grew up in an extremist environment. "

Al-Ghi'et stressed the need to support the United Nations, the Security Council, organizations concerned with children's rights and women's rights, and the calls of the Autonomous Administration to solve the dilemma of ISIS mercenaries and their families.

HE revealed that there is continuous communication with countries that have nationals within the al-Hol camp and the prisons of the Autonomous Administration at the level of foreign ministries, and he indicated that many of them create excuses for the return of families and mercenary elements of ISIS, and some of them cooperate but timidly, and he said : "Some of them cooperated, and some children and women who did not commit any crime were returned."

An invitation to Arab countries

Fener al-Ghi'et called on Arab countries that have citizens in northern and eastern Syria to cooperate with the Autonomous Administration, and in particular, the Iraqi government, which has more than 30 thousand people within Al-Hol camp, and from which a delegation at the level of the Iraqi Ministry of Expatriates and the security authorities visited the region and Al-Hol camp since About a year ago, to see the status of its nationals within the region.

Fener Al-Gait, Deputy Co-Presidency of the Department of External Relations in North and East Syria, noted that the Sudanese government is the first among all countries to return its citizens.

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ANHA