Iraq deported over 470 children of foreign Islamic State members

Iraqi authorities have so far deported 473 children of foreign Islamic State (IS) militants to their home countries, and it continues to facilitate the deportation of the remaining, according to a statement by Iraqi Foreign Ministry.

“The Foreign Ministry, through the Legal Department, works with the competent authorities, namely the Supreme Judicial Council, the Ministry of Justice and the security services, to resolve the deportation of Dae’sh [Islamic State] children to their countries,” Kurdistan 24 quoted a statement by the ministry spokesperson Ahmad al-Sahaf.

Iraq is holding thousands of IS militants and their families since the collapse of the jihadist group. Among the detainees are hundreds of foreigners from different countries, for which Baghdad repeatedly called on the international community to repatriate their citizens.

The 473 children of IS members were reportedly deported to Russia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Germany, France, Georgia, Belarus, Finland, Ukraine, and Turkey.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry has directed its missions abroad to invite all states with nationals who joined the group, including “women, children and juvenile offenders” who were caught in Iraq or Syria, to “coordinate with Iraq through diplomatic channels in order to receive them”.

Source: Basnews