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It sounds like a long time ago that we fought a war with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS). The country has moved on from other problems since the terrorist attack was defeated in March 2019. However the ISIL-related problems are over. In addition to the ongoing terrorist attacks around the world, one of the key issues is the involvement of the arrested ISIL militias, their families, and their allies.
For various reasons, some 40,000 people have fled to areas controlled by the group from 81 countries. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) troops have captured thousands of foreign troops and their families. In January this year, the SDF said it had arrested nearly 2,000 foreign fighters as well as 13,000 foreign women and children who are members of ISIL militant groups.
The question now is what to do with these people. Although many countries, including the West, have been reluctant to return home, Kazakhstan has taken a different approach. Our country operates “Zhusan” and “Rusafa”, as part of our approximately 700 citizens have been brought home, including 520 children. The others are women. Twenty-five men brought in have been convicted as ISIL fighters. Our efforts are based on charitable giving. Many women and children lack access to basic necessities, such as food, shelter, clean water, health and education. She has been subjected to sexual harassment, torture and interrogation by terrorist groups.
Bringing back former ISIL members can pose security threats. However, many women were deceived by the ISIL lies, and then did not conform to their wishes. Some were just stupid. Diligently, children did not have the opportunity to do so, so it is morally and politically appropriate to give them another chance. That is why the first President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, came up with the idea of repatriating our citizens from Syria and Iraq. The process continues under the current President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Restoration of our citizens has been half the battle. It has been equally important to ensure their rehabilitation and rehabilitation. Our government restructuring program is designed to provide mental health care, family support, housing, education and employment opportunities. Children of ISIL fighters have been issued birth certificates in Kazakh with Kazakh names, while women have been provided with clean passports and documents to reduce stigma and support their social inclusion. The original accommodation is provided in a specially designed changing environment. They included day and night support from colleagues, psychiatrists, teachers, theologians and medical professionals. Most of the children speak Arabic, so we enlisted the help of Arabic-speaking linguists. To help children become part of the community, educational programs are developed by teachers, who teach mathematics, languages, and other subjects.
The rehabilitation phase lasted one month, after which the families were relocated to the home of relatives and friends. An important part of the rehabilitation program was given to restoring family relationships. The first phase of the renovation helped the children start school with other children, while the younger children went to preschool and kindergartens. The families were also provided with notes, clothing and food, as they resumed. In all, more than 300 professionals have been involved across the country. In addition to giving families and children a second chance, we hope that this law will help prevent harassment and violence in Kazakhstan, as many families spoke publicly about the horrors they saw in Syria under ISIL. Our hope is that this will prevent others from joining terrorist organizations.
We have certainly had some problems along the way. Some children have struggled to adapt. Some relatives and friends of people connected with ISIL decided to end the relationship, which hindered reunification. However, we believe that the idea of repatriating our citizens has been confirmed and we are proud of the work that has been done, including with the support of UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United States and others. For example, the US Department of Culture has praised Kazakhstan’s efforts to repatriate people, and it has a key role to play in helping Kazakh authorities to improve.
Unfortunately, many foreign families remained in Syria and Iraq. Officials in these countries do not have enough money to hold ISIL prisoners and their families permanently in prison, especially during the coronavirus epidemic. Some countries should learn from the experience of Kazakhstan and decide to repatriate their citizens.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor of Al Jazeera.
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