Canada repatriates 14 citizens from ISIL camps in Syria

It is the Canadian government’s fourth repatriation operation of its nationals held in Syrian camps for foreigners accused of affiliation with ISIL.

Four women and 10 children have been repatriated by Canada from detention camps for foreign fighters and their families in northeastern Syria.

It was the Canadian government’s fourth repatriation operation of its nationals held in camps in Syria for foreigners accused of ties to the armed group ISIL (ISIS).

Three of the women were arrested at the airport in Montreal before appearing in court under a “terrorism peace bond application” — a type of restraining order, Canadian police said in a statement Friday.

One of them, an unidentified 38-year-old woman, was transported to the province of Alberta in western Canada and released on bail pending a hearing on the terms of her status.

“This is not a criminal charge,” her lawyer Lawrence Greenspon told AFP news agency, adding that the prosecutor wants to “ensure that the person complies with the terms for a period of up to a year.”

The other two, Ammara Amjad and Dure Ahmed, “will remain in custody until their next hearing, which is scheduled for Tuesday,” police said.

“Everything was fine” with regard to the fourth woman, said Greenspon, who represents all four women.

She faces no criminal charges, nor a request for a peace bond.

“The 10 children have been repatriated and are with their families here in Canada,” Greenspon said.

It remains unclear whether any of the repatriated persons can be prosecuted for alleged involvement in the armed group.

“When there is sufficient evidence, law enforcement and public safety agencies will independently take the necessary steps to keep our communities safe,” a State Department statement said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously faced criticism for acting slowly in repatriating Canadians held in the Syrian camps, which are widely known for their poor conditions.

More than 42,400 foreign adults and children accused of links to IS have been detained in Syria, according to Human Rights Watch.

The State Department said on Thursday it was concerned about the “health and well-being” of Canada’s children after “deteriorating conditions in the camps” where they were detained until recently.

Last October, Canada repatriated two women and two children detained in Syria. In 2020, Ottawa allowed the return of a five-year-old orphaned girl after her uncle filed a lawsuit against the government.

Since ISIL was defeated territorially in 2019, many countries have been reluctant to accept the repatriation of women and children of foreign fighters.

Countries around the world have debated how to deal with citizens who have joined IS but now want to return to their home countries.