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Lost in limbo: Berne under pressure to repatriate the Swiss jihadists held in Syria

Moreover,

Lost limbo: berne under pressure new: Meanwhile,

Lost limbo: berne under pressure:

Young girl behind the fence of a camp in Syria. Similarly, lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new

A young girl looks through a metal fence. Meanwhile, in the rain, in the Roj camp. Furthermore, It is there. Therefore. Similarly, in the campaign of the province of Hassaké, in northeast of Syria, that relatives of people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group are detained. Consequently, Afp Or Licensors

What will happen to the Swiss who joined the Islamic State terrorist group. Moreover, are today retained in northeast Syria? For example, Human rights specialists, humanitarian organizations and even the United States claim their repatriation. In addition, Switzerland, on the other hand, lost limbo: berne under lost limbo: berne under pressure new pressure assures that it will not support their return. However,

For at least six years, three Swiss have been held without trials in prisons controlled by Kurdish autonomous authorities in northeast Syria. In addition, They are among the tens of thousands of jihadists from Europe. Moreover, elsewhere who joined the self-proclaimed caliphate of the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria between 2014 and 2019. For example, An eight-year-old Swiss. Meanwhile, his daughter are also imprisoned in Al-Roj, one of the two camps where families of EI vendors are retained.

But while some European states. Meanwhile. However, Iraq have started to repatriate their nationals to prosecute them in their country of origin, Switzerland has so far refused, arguing that these people should be tried in Syria or lost limbo: berne under pressure new lost limbo: berne under pressure Iraq.

Forces map in Syria lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new
Swissinfo . Moreover,

“These people are arbitrarily detained. However, ” says Kastriot Lubishtani, lawyer and researcher based in Switzerland. Furthermore, We cannot leave these people in a kind of Guantánamo without trial and without access to a court. Similarly. Therefore, ” He refers to the American detention center in Cuba where prisoners were retained indefinitely without trial after the terrorist attacks of September 11. Furthermore, 2001.

Tens of thousands of people detained – Lost limbo: berne under pressure new

In 2019. In addition. For example, the Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS), a Kurdish militia supported by the United States, overthrew the self-proclaimed Caliphate of IS in northeast Syria. Meanwhile, The SDFs have captured tens of thousands of foreigners. For example. Furthermore, Syrians suspected of being members lost limbo: berne under pressure new of IS, as lost limbo: berne under pressure well as their families, and have since then hold them in prisons and in the camps of Al-Roj and Al-Hol.

According to the United Nations. In addition. around 9,000 men suspected of belonging to IS are currently imprisoned without trials, including 5,400 Syrians, 1,600 Iraqis and 1,500 people from 50 different countries. In addition, some 42,500 people are reached arbitrarily in the two enclosures. Moreover, These are close to IS suspects. However. refugee people, moved within the country and victims of the trafficking in human beings: 60% of them are children, the others being mainly women.

Man behind bars in a prison in Syria. lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new
A man seated in a overcrowded cell in IS prison in Al-Hasaka, Syria. Meanwhile, This lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new center. In addition. controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS) supported by the United States, holds around 9,000 presumed members of IS from several countries. Consequently, AFP

Avoid responsibilities

Thousands of Iraqis are currently repatriated since the camps with the support of their government. Therefore, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Progress is also made for the return of the Syrians moved by the civil war. But the nationals of third countries remain on site.

“The majority of EU countries. other states have transferred their nationals to the Kurdish authorities in northeast Syria. ” explains Matthew Cowling, in charge of humanitarian affairs for doctors without borders (MSF) in this region.

Peter Maurer visiting a country hospital in Syria. lost limbo: berne under pressure new
The former president of the ICRC. Peter Maurer, lost limbo: berne under pressure new visits a country hospital in the al-Hol camp, in northeast of Syria in March 2021. Cicr

Urgent repatriation required

Kastriot Lubishtani is not the only one. to estimate that human rights are raped in the camps. UN specialists and human rights organizations have also denounced serious abuse.

“The change of government in Syria is a precious opportunity to end arbitrary. inhuman. unlimited detention of around 52,000 people related to the conflict with IS,” said 16 independent experts of the UN Human Rights Council in April 2025.

In December 2024. the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) forces. a rebel group, took Damascus and overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad, in power since 2000.

“These people have been detained for at least six years without trial. under lost limbo: berne under pressure cruel, inhuman and degrading conditions, which violate international law,” said Kastriot Lubishtani. He lost limbo: berne under pressure new notably underlines the presence of tuberculosis, very widespread in cells.

MSF oversees two clinics in the large al-Hol camp, where it deals with patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. However, specialized care such as ophthalmology, dental care and neurology are lacking, according to the organization. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also manages a hospital in al-Hol. visits prisoners in prisons and is trying to facilitate contacts with family members.

UN specialists have called on all countries to urgently repatriate their nationals. to rehabilitate and reinstate them, or to prosecute them if necessary. “We are concerned about the fact that many countries have abandoned their citizens. have arbitrarily revoked their citizenship,” they said.

The United States defends the same position. Since the defeat of IS. American aid has played a key role in the lost limbo: berne under pressure management. security of the camps of Al-Hol and lost limbo: berne under pressure new Al-Roj, as well as installations administered by the SDFs where thousands of ISA fighters are imprisoned, Dorothy Shea, an active American ambassador in New York, said in February. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council. she added that “the United States has assumed too much of this burden for too long. We continue to call the countries to quickly repatriate their displaced and detained nationals in the region. ”

Plus

A celebration of the eviction of the government of Bashar al-Assad. on the Place des Omeyyads, in Damascus, on December 20, 2024. lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new

Lost limbo: berne under pressure new

Plus

New country. old fear: an overview of the realities lost limbo: berne under pressure of Syria

lost limbo: berne under pressure new This content was published on 24 Feb. 2025 What role will democracy and secularism play in Syria? An analysis through the eyes of a Syrian living in Switzerland.

Read more country. old fear: an overview of the realities of Syria

In January. February 2025, the United States decreased at least $ 117 million (93 million Swiss francs) its humanitarian aid northeast of Syria. They also plan to withdraw their troops still present in the area. THE New York Times reported in April that the number of soldiers could be reduced from 2000 to 500.

The freezing of American funds means that the situation in the camps deteriorates. according to a representative of a humanitarian organization who wishes to remain anonymous. It lost limbo: berne under pressure becomes more. more difficult to maintain the basic services. the Kurdish security lost limbo: berne under pressure new forces also facing a population frustrated by shortages of food, gas and heating in winter.

Lost limbo: berne under pressure

Switzerland remains inflexible

Some European states have started to repatriate the jihadists. to prosecute them in justice, in particular Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. The Netherlands and Germany condemned jihadists back to the country for war crimes. Like countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, they have also implemented deradicalization and reintegration programs.

Switzerland remains adamant. It does not actively facilitate the return of adult terrorists abroad. said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAE) in response to the questions sent by Swissinfo. This means, for example, that it will not support their repatriation by delivering a passport to them.

The department added that the initial decision on the subject. taken by the government in March 2019, remained lost limbo: berne under pressure valid.

The DFAE provides consular protection to lost limbo: berne under pressure new the persons concerned “as far as possible. taking into account the situation since he learned of their detention,” he said. He also stressed that there is no legal right to consular protection. Exceptions apply in cases where a person’s life or physical integrity is in danger.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also said they were in contact with the held Swiss and the Kurdish authorities. He said he had recently made a consular visit to the Al-Roj camp. where Switzerness and his daughter are imprisoned, and had virtual contact with the three men held.

Berne had previously proposed to repatriate only the daughter of this woman, but the mother had refused. The CICR and the United Nations organizations have repeatedly stressed that children should not be separated from their mother. “States must urgently repatriate children with their mother. ” asked the United Nations lost limbo: berne under pressure specialists from lost limbo: berne under pressure new 2023. arguing that all children in this conflict area deserve to be protected. They are victims of terrorism and serious human rights violations, they added. In camps, they do not have access to basic needs such as medical care, food, drinking water and education.

Women. children queuing in a camp in Syria under the supervision of soldiers. lost limbo: berne under pressure lost limbo: berne under pressure new
Women. children queue during a joint security operation by Syrian Kurdish Kurdish security police. the Syrian democratic forces (FDS) led by Kurds at the Roj camp. This is where foreign relatives of people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group (IS) are detained in. northeast Syria. Afp Or Licensors

Kastriot Lubishtani stresses lost limbo: berne under pressure that Switzerland has obligations under the United. Nations Convention on the lost limbo: berne under pressure new Rights of the Child. It must repatriate the youngest with their mothers in order to guarantee their well-being. According to him, Berne rather gave priority to his national political interests to the detriment of children’s well-being.

In 2019, the government justified its decision by invoking the security of the Swiss population. Some Swiss politicians. politicians argued that the jihadists had voluntarily entered these areas and had also joined a terrorist organization.

Kastriot Lubishtani is convinced that Switzerland will finally have to review its position. According to the European Court of Human Rights, IS veterans are entitled to an individual evaluation of their case. The Swiss Federal Court confirmed this decision last December. These persons can claim the protection provided for by international humanitarian law, which forces states to repatriate their citizens.

We do not know how the security lost limbo: berne under pressure situation will evolve under the new lost limbo: berne under pressure new Syrian government. how cooperation between Damascus and the Kurds will develop, details Kastriot Lubishtani. “IS veterans should therefore be repatriated as quickly as possible in a controlled framework. rather than risking seeing them disappear in nature.”

Back in Switzerland, and they would first be imprisoned, he explains. If no war crime can be proven, they would at least be condemned for participation in a criminal terrorist organization. At the time of the facts, it meant five years in prison.

Rely. verified text by Virginie Mangin, translated from English by Lucie Donzé/Op

Lost limbo: berne under pressure

Further reading: &#8220. Brutal” impact of the heat wave: in the Alps, the spectrum of the Fournaise of summer 2022 is already lurkingSixteen candidates. the arrival of Moutier and the story of two brothers: the lost limbo: berne under pressure new electoral campaign comes alive in the Jura – Rts.chThe UN requests a reform of customs tariffs on plasticThe Toblerone Trail: a unique walk through Swiss history and natureVariable geometries of military service in Europe.

Further reading: Switzerland should not give gifts to Donald TrumpA 17 year old teenager killed in a CFF stationThe drawing of the week: Swiss diplomacy on all foursA senior ignores a red light in Switzerland: 11 injuredBasketball: Switzerland bows to Slovakia.

delaney.knight
delaney.knight
A Miami marine reporter, Delaney maps coral-reef heartbreaks with watercolor sketches and policy sidebars.
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