Iraq and France are discussing mechanisms for trials of Islamic State fighters, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday during a visit to Baghdad.
Le Drian said he discussed with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed al-Hakim ways to find the appropriate judicial mechanisms to put militants who fought with the extremist group on trial.
Al-Hakim said his country has vowed to take back all Iraqi Islamic State militants and their families.
“Iraq will not reject its citizens and will put them on a fair trial,’’ al-Hakim said.
He also said there are foreign fighters detained in Syria from 72 countries and called on their governments to take appropriate measures towards their citizens, without elaborating.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are holding some 10,000 Islamic State fighters after its defeat of the extremist militia organisation in Syria.
However, the recent Turkish offensive on northern Syria has raised concern over maintaining the security of the prisons and camps where fighters and their families are being held.
Syrian Kurdish authorities said on Sunday that 785 foreigners linked to Islamic State had escaped from a camp in Ain Issa town.
France and other European countries have refused to repatriate Islamic State fighters and their wives and widows held by the SDF, which previously called for an international tribunal to try them.
Eleven French nationals were sentenced to death in Iraq earlier this year, reportedly after being handed over to Iraqi authorities by the SDF.
NAN/dpa
