Baghdad: Iraq has initiated investigations into ISIS (Daesh) terror group detainees transferred from Syria, asserting that these individuals will not be repatriated to their home countries until judicial proceedings conclude, as stated by the country's top judicial body on Sunday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation, part of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, revealed that the suspects hail from approximately 42 countries, with investigations projected to take between four and six months. An oversight meeting was convened at the Supreme Judicial Council under its president, Judge Faiq Zaidan, said Ali Diaa, deputy head of the center, as reported by the Iraqi News Agency INA.
The responsibility of investigating suspects transferred from Syria has been assigned to the First Karkh Investigative Court in Baghdad, which is specialized in handling terrorism cases. Diaa mentioned that the court has been bolstered with additional judges, prosecutors, and administrative staff to complete the investigation files. Interrogations commenced on January 28 to finalize detainee records.
Diaa emphasized that the investigations are starting from scratch, referencing a comprehensive body of data related to crimes perpetrated by ISIS. He stated that the center established an operations room in collaboration with security agencies, utilizing a substantial information bank documenting crimes committed by the terror group between 2014 and 2017, with all relevant data and evidence provided to guide investigators.
Diaa indicated that it is premature to discuss repatriations, noting that preliminary findings suggest some detainees are 'highly dangerous,' including 'senior ISIS leaders and perpetrators of genocide and crimes against humanity against Iraqi communities.' The cases involve suspects linked to crimes against Yazidis and the use of chemical weapons during ISIS's control of parts of Iraq.
He mentioned that approximately 7,000 to 8,000 foreign ISIS members from around 42 countries are encompassed in the overall caseload, stressing that all trials in Iraq are conducted exclusively under Iraqi law. Furthermore, the suspects had not been tried in Syria and were held for years without interrogation by courts or the international coalition.
On Saturday, Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi Security Media Cell, disclosed that Iraq received 2,250 ISIS detainees from Syria by land and air in coordination with the international coalition and placed them in heavily guarded detention facilities. On January 21, the Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the initiation of an operation to move ISIS detainees from northeastern Syria to Iraq, stating that US forces transferred 150 detainees from a facility in Hasakah province to a site inside Iraq, followed by additional transfers.
The same day, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper briefed Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa by phone on a plan to transfer about 7,000 ISIS detainees to Iraq. These developments followed the withdrawal of the terrorist organization YPG/SDF from al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria after clashes with the Syrian Army, which later assumed control of the camp and surrounding areas.
Iraq declared "victory" over ISIS on December 10, 2017, following a three-year battle to reclaim territory seized by the terrorist group. However, ISIS terrorists continue to execute sporadic attacks in northern, western, and eastern provinces, while Iraqi authorities conduct military operations to dismantle the group's remaining cells.