Tunisia: At least 200 children of Tunisian Jihadists stranded in war zones

Posted On 7 February 2020

Number of times this article was read : 82

Human Rights Watch on Thursday called on Tunisia to bring home nearly 200 children of suspected jihadists stranded or held in crowded camps and prisons in Libya, Iraq and Syria. The New York-based rights watchdog welcomed Tunisia’s repatriation last month of six orphaned children of alleged Islamic State group members from Libya as a “step toward protecting” their rights. It said that 36 other children of IS suspects remained stranded in Libya, while 160 were believed to be detained in Syria and Iraq. “Tunisia should move swiftly to follow this positive step with further action to bring home its children trapped in squalid camps and prisons in war-torn countries,” said HRW’s Tunisia director, Amna Guellali.

“Children should not be punished for the purported crimes of their parents.” The six repatriated children, aged three to 12 years old, had been cared for by the Libyan Red Crescent for several years since the fall of the IS stronghold of Sirte in 2016. They were welcomed home by Tunisian President Kais Saied, who called for repatriations to be speeded up.

The remaining children in Libya are believed to be held in prisons with their mothers who should also be allowed to return to be investigated in their home country, Human Rights Watch said. In recent years, Tunisia has been one of the key sources of jihadists who headed to conflicts around the world. In 2015, the United Nations said that some 5,000 Tunisians had flocked mainly to Syria and Libya to join IS, while authorities in Tunis gave a lower figure of 3,000. Their return has been a cause of concern in the North African country, which has been under a state of emergency following a string of IS-claimed attacks in 2015 and 2016.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Is Morocco Quietly Preparing for Royal Succession?

Is Morocco Quietly Preparing for Royal Succession?

Morocco’s royal succession is in the spotlight as King Mohammed VI faces health challenges. Key figures, including Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, are preparing for a potential transition. This shift may lead Morocco toward a more conservative future, impacting the kingdom’s stability and modernization

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This