A lawyer for 2 Canadian ladies and three teenage ladies who have been to be repatriated from northeastern Syria earlier this month says they have been mistreated by guards and are being held in a camp that principally holds members of the family of people with alleged ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Edmonton barrister Zachary Al-Khatib mentioned one of many ladies was in a position to make a brief telephone name to a member of the family in Canada early Tuesday earlier than the decision was reduce off.
He mentioned the lady indicated they have been alive and have been moved to the Roj camp, however have been abused, wanted medical consideration and all their belongings have been taken.
“Clearly it was very worrying for the household to listen to that after 11 days of nothing,” he mentioned.
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In line with an settlement with International Affairs Canada, the group of 5 can be transported from the Al-Hol camp, the place they have been being held, to the Roj camp to affix 4 different ladies and 10 youngsters. The others returned to Canada on April 6.
FILE – Kids collect exterior their tents at al-Hol camp, which homes households of members of the Islamic State group, in Hasakeh province, Syria, on Might 1, 2021.
AP Photograph/Baderkhan Ahmad, file
Al-Khatib mentioned whereas these nonetheless in Syria are involved about their security with the switch between camps, the Canadian authorities has advised them they’ve communicated with Kurdish forces working the Al-Hol camp.
“They have been assured that they’d be protected,” he mentioned. “After they then reported to be transported, they went lacking for 11 days and the federal government had no solutions.”
Al-Khatib mentioned Canada should take quick steps to make sure the ladies and ladies are protected and repatriated.
“The federal government has been silent on this,” he mentioned.
“The federal government should present solutions to the household and to the general public.”
Al-Khatib mentioned he didn’t know why the ladies nonetheless within the Roj camp, aged 41 and 33, initially traveled to Syria, however there was no proof of prison intent or that that they had damaged the legislation.
International Affairs Canada didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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Letta Tayler, affiliate director within the disaster and battle division of Human Rights Watch, agreed that it’s crucial that the Canadian authorities discover out what occurred and clarify it to the household and the general public.
“This incident that left the 5 behind is emblematic of the issues inherent on this unlawful detention system, this means of Canada and different nations outsourcing duty for his or her residents to a non-state actor in a conflict zone,” she mentioned. mentioned.
“Issues usually are not essentially going to go easily in these circumstances.”
Tayler mentioned many different ladies claimed to have been detained in Al-Hol or at different websites, and in some instances abused, whereas being transferred from Al-Hol to the Roj camp.
She mentioned some ladies claimed they have been taken to a holding cell they referred to as the “Crimson Jail,” which she mentioned appeared like a detention space in Al-Hol.
“Among the testimonies I’ve heard are that ladies and kids are stored in rooms which can be mainly latrines,” she mentioned.
“These are horrible circumstances.”
Human Rights Watch mentioned in December that since ISIS’s territorial defeat in 2019, greater than 42,400 foreigners accused of ties to ISIS have been held in camps and prisons in northeastern Syria, most of them youngsters, who haven’t beforehand ‘ a judicial authority has not been introduced. decide the necessity or legality of their detention. In 2020, it mentioned it included at the least 47 Canadians.
The worldwide non-governmental group mentioned medical care, clear water, shelter and training within the camps have been “grossly insufficient” and referred to as on nations with detainees to repatriate their residents.
Lawrence Greenspon, a lawyer in Ottawa, reached the settlement in January to repatriate 19 Canadian ladies and kids who have been a part of a lawsuit in opposition to the federal authorities often known as BOLOH, or “Convey Our Cherished Ones Dwelling.” The federal authorities is interesting a court docket order to repatriate 4 males held in Syria.
Three of the 4 ladies who returned to Canada this month have been arrested on arrival below a Terrorism Peace Bond utility and have since been launched on bail.
Two different ladies who have been repatriated from Syria with two youngsters in October have been additionally arrested upon their arrival, considered one of whom faces prison costs.
“Now we have each the legal guidelines and the workers and there’s a whole division, the Division of Justice, that’s set as much as take care of these sorts of prosecutions,” Greenspon mentioned.
“There’s completely no cause to not deliver these Canadians residence and take care of them appropriately below the Canadian prison justice system, somewhat than letting them rot in prisons and detention camps.”
© 2023 The Canadian Press
