There are concerns that T&T nationals detained in Syria can be radicalised. More than 100 T&T nationals, including 56 children, are currently in prison or detained in refugee camps after joining the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.
New information received through Human Rights Watch suggests that children are now targets of Islamic radical groups in the camps.
Jo Becker, Advocacy Director of the Children’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, said while there is no specific information about Trinidadians being targeted by ISIS, “international security experts agree that the longer nationals stay in the region, the greater the risk of indoctrination and recruitment.”
US military experts have called al-Hol, the bigger of the two refugee camps, a centre for child recruitment by ISIS. Danish intelligence sources have said that dozens of foreign children have been smuggled out of the camp specifically for training purposes, she told Guardian Media.
“And other experts have called it a breeding ground for, you know, future ISIS fighters. So, you know, I think the important thing is to bring back all foreign nationals as soon as possible,” Becker further revealed.
Human Rights Watch has called on the Government to intervene and assist T&T nationals detained in refugee camps.
Becker said, “Most of the Trinidadians are in Roj, which is a smaller camp. But, you know, we know that ISIS loyalists are active in both camps and as the months and years have gone by, some of these loyalists have become engaged in higher levels of violence ... against other detainees, against camp officials, against humanitarian workers.
“And we also know that in some cases, they are targeting children in particular for indoctrination and radicalisation. So the greatest risk is leaving nationals in the camps, not bringing them home.”
Officials of Human Rights Watch have met with T&T nationals detained in Syria.
“We know from our interviews with women and children and other detainees is that the thing that they want more than anything else is just to go home and resume a normal life,” Becker said.
“You know, the children need to be back in school, people want to be back with family, get jobs and just rejoin their community. I know that officials in Trinidad and Tobago are concerned about national security. Of course, every government needs to be concerned about national security but it’s also important to note that 38 other countries have already repatriated some or many of their nationals.
“That’s over 6,000 individuals, many women and children, and we’ve not seen any increase in crime in those countries as a result. And we really hope that the government of Trinidad and Tobago acts quickly to bring their nationals home.”
Becker added, “We’re continuing to highlight the dire humanitarian condition in the camps. We should note that this week we are entering the fifth year of detention for many of these foreign nationals. They’ve been languishing there for a long time and as this anniversary passes, it really underscores the urgency to act.
“I would also say that, you know, in the last few months we have been encouraged that an increasing number...of countries have begun or have escalated their repatriations. Over 10 governments, just since October, have brought nationals back. So, you know, we are continuing to engage with governments, a range of governments that have nationals in the camps.
“We continue to encourage them to act quickly and we are continuing to monitor conditions in the camps and the humanitarian condition there, which is quite dire. So we hope action will be coming quickly.”
Since the release of a Human Rights Watch report on T&T nationals detained in Syria and Iraq, many local Islamic Groups have been calling on the Government to assist in returning them to this country.