8 children from ISIS families handed over to Russia by Administration of North and East Syria

ZALIN, Syria — A Russian delegation headed by Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova visited the headquarters of Foreign Relations Commission of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria.

In comments to the SuroyoTV news desk, Deputy Co-Chair of the DAA Foreign Relations Department Abeer Elia stated that custody of eight children between 6 and 17 years of age from families affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) was transferred to the Russian delegation with an official handover document signed between the two parties. DNA analysis confirmed that the parents of the children were Russian nationals.

Elia also demanded more Russian cooperation with the DAA to repatriate all of its citizens from Al-Hol and Roj camps in North and East Syria — not only the humanitarian cases.

In recent years, custody of 225 children was transferred to Russia on primarily humanitarian grounds.

She also appealed to the international community to support opening centers for protecting and rehabilitating children who lived or were indoctrinated by ISIS.

“The DAA regions needs about 15 rehabilitation centers for children, whether in temporary detention centers or in Al-Hol and Roj camps,” she proclaimed.

“The international community must provide support for developing the infrastructure of ISIS prisons and supporting the camps housing ISIS families in North and East Syria,” she concluded.