The Swedish government has launched an initiative to have ISIS members captured by the YPG tried in a special court. The Netherlands, France, the UK and Belgium are positive towards the call issued by Stockholm.
The government in Stockholm has taken action to have the ISIS members captured in YPG/SDF operations in Rojava Kurdistan and northern Syria put on trial in a special court with participation from international observers.
The first international meeting will be held on June 3 for such a trial, on Sweden’s initiative. Swedish Interior Minister Mikael Damberg spoke to French news agency AFP and said the states in question need to take this trial on their agenda at this point.
Minister Damberg said the countries’ representatives won’t just be exchanging opinions, and that they will be discussing what crimes ISIS members will be charged with. According to information provided by the Swedish minister, the Netherlans, France, the UK and Belgium have already responded positively to the proposal.
“IN SITU TRIALS”
Minister Damberg said it might be better to hold trials in situ for ISIS members rather than bringing them into Europe and then putting them on trial. Damberg justified the position as: “We believe it is important to set up a court in the Middle East where they already are for putting more people on trial and being able to gather more information on the persons to be tried.”
Last month, Austria had taken action to have the ISIS members captured by YPG to be tried in a war crimes tribunal when Austrian Interior Minister Kickl had appealed to the European Union Commission. The EU has yet to respond to Vienna’s appeal.
Last February, US President Donald Trump said, “The US wants the UK, France, Germany and other European allies to take back the over 800 ISIS fighters captured in Syria to be put on trial. There is no alternative, otherwise we would be forced to release them.” Germany and the UK had already responded negatively to Trump’s call.
Over 2.800 ISIS members have been captured in YPG operations in northern Syria. Over 800 of these persons were citizens of 46 different states, most of which are Western countries. Only France, Indonesia. Russia, Morocco and the Sudan have officially asked the Rojava administration for the repatriation of their citizens captured alive by the YPG.
