UK Quietly Repatriates ISIS-Linked Women and Children from Syria

The United Kingdom has repatriated a small group of women and children linked to the Islamic State from Syria, a move that raises questions about the country’s policies regarding its citizens involved with the extremist group. Six women and nine children, previously held in camps run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), have returned to the UK, as confirmed by Rasheed Afrin, co-director of the al-Roj camp.

Concerns have arisen regarding the potential for ISIS prisoners to escape amid the ongoing chaos in eastern Syria, where the Syrian government is gradually reclaiming territory from Kurdish forces. Despite this, the SDF continues to maintain control over the al-Roj camp, where Shamima Begum and others are located. According to Afrin, there are still 29 women and children with British passports remaining in the camp, as the situation evolves with the central government’s increasing influence in the region.

Begum, who traveled to Syria at the age of 15 in 2015, was stripped of her citizenship after a public outcry following her discovery in SDF detention by reporters in 2019. She is one of three girls from Bethnal Green, east London, who joined ISIS; the other two are believed to have died during conflicts. The UK government has maintained a firm policy against repatriating ISIS affiliates, though some unaccompanied minors have been allowed to return to the UK under the care of social services.

While the official stance of the UK government remains unchanged, the Foreign Office has processed a limited number of repatriations on a case-by-case basis. Most of the women brought back have been those who were minors when they traveled to Syria. A report in November 2024 by the Independent Commission on Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice indicated that 21 individuals, including three adult women and 18 children, had been repatriated. Public announcements have confirmed the return of only two women, one in 2022 and another in 2023.

The UK government is also preparing to resume deportations of foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers to Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. In November, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the Home Office was exploring the possibility of enforced returns for the first time in 15 years.

The chaotic situation in the camps has raised alarms, particularly at the larger al-Hawl camp, where a recent takeover by the Syrian military has led to riots and the escape of numerous women. Jihan Hanan, the former director of al-Hawl, highlighted the distressing conditions inside the camp, stating, “There were no preparations for the handover… At the end of the day, these are women and children.”

The SDF has called upon countries to repatriate their citizens, yet many nations have hesitated to do so. Hanan emphasized the need for international action, saying, “Enough, the international community should say enough; this matter needs to be resolved.” She pointed out the diverse backgrounds of the women and children in the camps, ranging from committed extremists to those who were drawn into the conflict or born into it.

As the situation continues to develop, the fate of the remaining women and children in the camps remains uncertain, and the UK must navigate the complexities of its approach to citizens entangled with ISIS.