Europe is repatriating an increasing number of women and children linked to Islamic State, which has been suffering for years in Syrian camps. The latest influx arrived in France this week, welcoming rights groups positive but not enough.
The 51 women and children who landed in Paris on Tuesday represent the largest intake of French government citizens ever associated with Islamic State terrorist groups. Their arrival underscores the changes in the sea in France's long-standing policy of repatriation on a case-by-case basis.
"This is a welcome, long-deferred step, but obviously not enough," said Letta Tayler, Human Rights Watch's counterterrorism specialist.
Like other rights groups, HRW has long advocated countries returning citizens from Iraq and Syria.
"These children and mothers live in horrific situations," Taylor said. “They lack adequate food, clean water, medical care and education.”
The transition to repatriation is taking place elsewhere in Europe. Last month, Belgium sent 22 women and children home. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands have organized similar returns in recent months.
Among the latest returnees to France is Emilie Konig, a Muslim convert from Brittany who became a recruiter of the infamous Islamic state. Her lawyer said she wanted to work with French authorities.
"Women are put directly in jail because they are suspected of being tried or involved in terrorist acts," said Farhad Khosrokhavar, a sociologist and jihadist expert.
Khosrokhavar said this is the short-term fate of most female returnees here and perhaps elsewhere in Europe. Children can live with relatives or be housed.
"The question is what will happen after that, partly because it comes out of prison," Khosrokhavar said.
Khosrokhavar said another major problem was children who were traumatized and needed psychiatric or psychological treatment.
Some of them don't speak French, "said Khosrokhavar. "They have to be re-socialized, but who will re-socialize them?"
A few years ago, France was the largest exporter of jihadists to the Middle East in Western Europe. Was counted as. Today, there is little popular appetite to see them go home. This is especially true for men who have committed many of the atrocities, including terrorism. Many died in combat, but some have been mass or detained in Syrian camps.
"The number of men is at least hundreds, at least not more," Khosrokhavar said. "So the main problem is with men. Their pure number. And, of course, violence."
But return advocates are right to bring jihad fighters and affiliates home. It's not just a movement, it's a wise move. HRW Taylor agrees.
"There is a growing consensus that leaving these detainees, including the security sector, in northeastern Syria is more risky than taking them home," she said.
Thousands of people from dozens of countries are still detained far from home, so Taylor said, it's a problem that won't be resolved immediately.
