Belgium Faces Pressure to Repatriate Children of ISIS Fighters from Syria

"We don’t want this money at all. [...] We would much prefer Belgium to bring these children back from Syria." These are the words with which Abderrahim Lahlali and Mohamed Ozdemir, lawyers for the families concerned, have displayed the position they hold on this issue.

Abderrahim Lahlali denounces the government’s inaction which, for two years, has not worked for the repatriation of the children of jihadists stranded in Syria. "Four weeks after the verdict, our clients were invited to send recent photos of their children. That’s all...", he laments. Yet, "the judge clearly indicated in his verdict! The State must do everything in its power to repatriate them. Which concretely means that it must cooperate with the organizations on the ground to bring them back from the Al-Hol camp, which has never been done," the lawyer indignantly.

As a result, the lawyers have served formal notice to the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs, reports Het Laatste Nieuws. De facto, the Belgian State has ten days to pay the penalty of 5,000 euros per child per day, i.e. a total of 50,000 euros. In case of non-compliance with the formal notice, the lawyers will be able to call on a bailiff. In this case, the amount to be paid could increase.

For its part, the government is playing the card of caution. "We are making efforts, but we prefer to remain discreet. This remains a delicate file," we are told at the office of Minister Philippe Goffin.