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Several Moroccan families had fled the areas controlled by the «Islamic State in Iraq and Syria» in the recent days, reported AFP Thursday, quoting one of its journalists who visited Baghuz, a town in Syria.
These families were sent to prisons «run by US-backed forces», stated the French agency, referring to the struggle of North African fighters and their families who joined ISIS in the past.
These foreign nationals, who are mainly from Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria have been trying to leave the war zone to join their countries but in vain.
According to AFP, Moroccans who joined the ranks of the terrorist organization, amounted to 1.600 in 2015. Morocco is struggling with the fate of these nationals who are keen to return home. However, just like Tunisia and Algeria, the Kingdom is worried about their repatriation, which might «pose a security threat», signaled the French agency.
Moroccan mothers and their children in ISIS
For the record, it is not the first time that the fate of Moroccan nationals and their children in ISIS is making headlines.
In November, 2018, the Northern Observatory for Human Rights (ONERDH) urged the government to repatriate a group of Moroccan women, who have been married to ISIS fighters and who are held in northern Syria.
Citing an official source, the NGO warned against the procedure, stressing that these women might be convicted by Iraq of membership to ISIS. «They could be arrested by the authorities within the next six months», wrote the Moroccan association.
These women, stranded in a refugee camp with their children, have been at the heart of ONERDH’s demands last year. «The Observatory has urged the Moroccan government to repatriate Moroccan women and their children to the Kingdom».
Responding to the association’s call, the government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi dismissed «rumors» suggesting that Morocco denied the repatriation of 200 Moroccan women and their children in Syria, during a press conference held in July, 2018.
«It’s their country and we cannot refuse their repatriation», he said, adding that Morocco «defends its citizens inside the outside the country». «It is part of our duty», added the government spokesperson. The minister also promised to contact the Ministry of Moroccans living abroad to tackle the issue.
