Four ISIS women to be tried in the Netherlands
AMSTERDAM — Trial proceedings for four women linked with the Islamic State (ISIS) have begun following their return to the Netherlands.
The women were arrested by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria after the liberation of Baghuz, east of the Euphrates River, the final pocket of significant ISIS resistance in Syria. They were detained in Al-Hol Refugee Camp, east of Hasakah.
The court decided to keep the women in pre-trial detention on the grounds that their release would pose a danger to Dutch security.
One of the women, Hafeda, had fought alongside her husband in ISIS ranks for five years.
One of the other women, Naima, as well as her daughter, suffered burns after their tent in Al-Hol Camp caught fire. Her son was killed while fighting for ISIS.
Nearly 300 Dutch nationals traveled to Syria to join ISIS. About 120 of them are still in camps and detention centers in Syria and Iraq.
The Foreign Relations Commission of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) in North and East Syria has repeatedly called on countries to repatriate their nationals who are in DAA camps and detention centers.
The Netherlands pledged to repatriate its citizens to be tried on its territory and called on European countries to do the same.