Abdul Kareem Umar: If ISIS' dilemma is not resolved, terrorism would not be solved

Abdul Kareem Umar praised what was stated in the final statement of international coalition countries' ministers regarding the detained ISIS mercenaries and their families who are present in north and east Syria, hoped that it would come into force as soon as possible, and stressed the urgency to open Tel Kocher crossing to achieve stability in the region.

29 June, 2021 12:07

NEWS DESK - AKRAM BARAKAT

On June 28, a meeting of ministers of the international coalition countries to defeat ISIS was held in Rome, during which the situation of ISIS mercenaries and families was discussed, and the ministers affirmed their common determination to continue the fight against ISIS and create the conditions for a final defeat of the terrorist group.

Commenting on the final statement issued by the meeting of ministers of the international coalition to defeat ISIS, Co-chair of the Foreign Relations Department of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Abdul Kareem Umar , explained that several meetings took place with the forces of the international community before the meeting of the international coalition to defeat ISIS, which was held in Rome, among them Representatives of the United States of America, and he said, "On June 3, a meeting was held with all European countries and representative of the American and Canadian Foreign Affairs via Zoom application."

Umar confirmed that they made it clear during the June 3 meeting that the international community and the international coalition should assume their responsibilities towards the detainees of ISIS mercenaries and their families in the areas of north and east Syria, and stated, "We emphasized that this dilemma is a global problem, so it must be confronted commonly, and we made clear the great number of ISIS mercenaries and their families in the area which constitutes a huge burden on the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria."

Within Al-Hol camp alone, there are about 60,000 people, most of whom are families and advocators of ISIS mercenaries, and there is a section specialized for "female migrants," which contains more than 8,000 people, most of whom are children under the age of 14, in addition to the presence of about 12,000 ISIS mercenaries in the Autonomous Administration's prisons, and these belong to more than 54 countries.

ISIS elements must be brought to justice

He reiterated the need to prosecute ISIS mercenaries and their families involved in criminal acts against the people of north and east Syria, and said, "These have committed crimes against the people of the region, and secondly, we have all the evidence that condemns them." He noted that if one of the countries that has nationals who joined ISIS and are in the Autonomous Administration's prisons requests to repatriate their nationals, they can receive them provided that there would be guarantees that confirm holding them fair trials.

Concerning the families of ISIS mercenaries in Roj and Al-Hol Camps, which are considered the most dangerous camps in the world, Umar stressed that they have repeatedly called on the international community and the countries that have nationals to assume their responsibilities and repatriate their nationals, and said, "Unfortunately, European countries and even the European community are afraid of repatriating their nationals, and this is a big mistake; firstly, these children are not to blame because they are victims of ISIS, and

secondly, keeping these children in the camps contributes to the creation of a new radical terrorist generation because they receive training on extremist terrorist ideology and the spirit of revenge, and they will pose a threat to the region and the international community as well in the future."

Umar praised the conclusions of the international coalition's meeting on the challenge posed by the detained foreign ISIS mercenaries, as well as their families' members who are still present in Syria and Iraq, and the ministers committed themselves to following up on effective justice and accountability mechanisms in close coordination with countries of origin. This includes holding mercenaries who have used sexual violence as a tool of terrorism accountable, and prosecuting them in accordance with applicable international law obligations, including fair trial guarantees.

Al-Hol camp has been out of our control and the international community must bear its responsibilities

Umar explained that the international community must uphold its responsibilities, and the countries that do not carry out their tasks towards their detained nationals and those in the camps must provide aid and assistance to the Autonomous Administration in order to establish suitable detention centers, and contribute to the trial of ISIS mercenaries in the areas of north and east Syria, and thirdly, support them in Al-Hol camp. He said, "This camp has been out of our control. We must be supported in order to establish rehabilitation centers and schools for the children and women of ISIS mercenaries until a solution to this dilemma is found."

Umar focused on an important point made in the closing statement of the foreign ministers' meeting of the global coalition to defeat ISIS which is to stand beside the survivors and families of ISIS crimes' victims who seek justice and accountability. He said, "During the military campaigns carried out by the people of the region against ISIS mercenaries, thousands of people in the region were martyred and thousands got wounded, and those have children and families. Therefore, the international community should provide assistance to the martyrs' families and provide support to the war-wounded," stressing that they have a project in this regard and presented it to the international community.

If the ISIS dilemma is not resolved, the terrorism dilemma would not be solved

Umar reiterated his criticism of the international community, "It did not perform its duty towards ISIS mercenaries and their families. There are some countries that have taken very small numbers of their nationals from ISIS' families, and no solution has been found to ISIS' dilemma, as well as no assistance has been provided in this regard."

Umar pointed to the problem of ISIS children, "There are tragic stories of ISIS families, for example, there are women who have 4 children, and each child of a father holds the nationality of a different country, and there is no record of these children. Therefore, we asked the international community to hold a conference in order to discuss this dilemma." He stressed that if the ISIS dilemma is not resolved, the terrorism dilemma would not be solved.

Umar drew attention to the fact that they have periodic meetings with the forces of the international coalition and America, and one of the main points that are discussed during these meetings is the danger of ISIS mercenaries and their families, and the need to find a radical solution for the detainees and families of ISIS, and said, "The decision taken in the meeting of the international coalition forces regarding ISIS and their families was as a result of the discussions that took place between us and the forces of the international coalition." Omar wished the decision to enter into force as soon as possible.

Umar considered the coalition's commitment to support a political solution in Syria and continue to fight ISIS "very important decisions for the region."

Terrorism cannot be eliminated without a solution to the Syrian crisis

Umar explained that they have repeatedly discussed with the forces of the international coalition the issue of the Syrian crisis, and stressed that it is not possible to eliminate terrorism without finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, "Eliminating terrorism is linked to internal stability in Syria, and to resolving the Syrian crisis under Resolution 2254."

He stressed the need to involve Kurds and representatives of the Autonomous Administration in the meetings in order to solve the Syrian crisis, and indicated that the organizations and forces that attend in the name of the Syrian opposition do not represent the components of north and east Syria, and said, "The Syrian crisis cannot be resolved in the event of exclusion of the Autonomous Administration's representatives who represent more than 5 million people in north and east Syria, and who played a major role in eliminating terrorism."

Tel Kocher/Al-Yarubiyah crossing must be reopened

Umar also clarified the need for the international community to support the people of the areas of north and east Syria which are witnessing a suffocating siege, after the Russian-Chinese double veto regarding the Tel Kocher/Al-Yarubiyah crossing, through which the people of the region used to receive aid. He noted, "The UN aid allocated to the areas of north and east Syria which is estimated at millions of dollars coming through Damascus does not reach the region, so the international community must pressure the forces that obstruct delivering aid to the region during the meeting supposed to be held on July 10th for the border crossings, in addition to the reopening of the Tel Kocher crossing between the areas of north and east Syria and the State of Iraq."

Umar stressed that the areas newly liberated from ISIS mercenaries such as Deir Ezzor, Tabqa, Raqqa and Manbij urgently need assistance, and need to support small projects in order to achieve stability, and said, "If there is no stability, there would be a prepared ground for ISIS mercenaries to reorganize its ranks."

D.H