US thanks Spain for repatriating woman and child from ISIS family camp in northern Syria

Eduardo González The United States government has thanked Spain for its cooperation in repatriating a Spanish woman and child from a camp in northern Syria housing relatives of ISIS (Islamic State) members. “With U.S. government assistance, Spain repatriated one woman and one child from the Roj displaced persons camp in northeast Syria on Tuesday, November 25,” the State Department said in a press release on Thursday. The identities of the individuals have not been released, but they are presumed to be a mother and her child. “Approximately 11,600 individuals from more than 70 countries outside Syria remain in the al-Hol and Roj camps, most of whom are children under the age of 12. Of the total, approximately 3,700 are nationals from over 30 different European countries,” it added. According to the Department headed by Marco Rubio, “the only durable solution to the humanitarian and security challenges in northeast Syria is for countries of origin to repatriate, rehabilitate, reintegrate, and, where appropriate, ensure their nationals face accountability for past acts,” because, “by doing so, the risk of an ISIS resurgence in the region can be reduced, and a stable future for Syria can be ensured”. “The United States thanks Spain for working with us to repatriate its nationals, and expresses gratitude to our local partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, for their assistance in facilitating this repatriation and their commitment to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS,” it concluded. This is the second repatriation of Spaniards from this area. The previous one took place in January 2023, when Yolanda Martínez and Luna Fernández and several children, including their own, were repatriated. The two women had been married to ISIS members and shared their ideology. Upon their arrival in Spain, they were taken into police custody and placed at the disposal of the National Court. Last April, Yolanda Martínez and Luna Fernández accepted a three-year prison sentence before the National Court for membership in a terrorist organization, with the mitigating circumstance of late confession, and a seven-year ban from any educational profession or occupation, in addition to a five-year period of supervised release that will include participation in a terrorist deradicalization program.

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