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It has long been felt that we fought with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS). The world has gone to other troubles in March 2019 since the military defeat of this terrorist group. However, the challenges associated with ISIL are far from over. In addition to being a constant global threat to terrorism, one of the key issues is what to do with the ISIL soldiers arrested, their families, and those who joined the group during his time in power.
For one reason or another, approximately 40,000 people traveled to areas controlled by the group from 81 countries. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured thousands of foreign fighters and their families. In January this year, the SDF said it had about 2,000 foreign fighters and 13,000 foreign women and children who are relatives of ISIL-related fighters.
Now the question is what to do with these people. Although many countries, including the West, have been hesitant to repatriate their citizens, Kazakhstan has taken a very different view. Our country carried out “Zhusan” and “Rusafa” operations, of which about 700 of our citizens have been brought home, including 520 children. The others are mostly women. The 25 men who were deported have been tried as ISIL fighters. Our effort is based on humanitarian foundations. Many women and children were left without access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clean water, health and education. Terrorist groups suffered sexual abuse, exploitation and potential recruitment.
Bringing back people who were once part of ISIL can lead to security risks. However, many women were deceived by ISIL propaganda, which was then done against their will. Some were just naive. Essentially, the children had no choice in this matter, so it is morally and politically correct to give them another chance. It was for this reason that Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, decided to repatriate citizens from Syria and Iraq. This policy has continued at the behest of current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The repatriation of citizens has been only half the battle. It has been as important as ensuring their rehabilitation and social integration. Our state’s rehabilitation program is designed to provide mental health care, family support, housing, education, and employment opportunities. Children of ISIL fighters have been given Kazakh birth certificates and Kazakh names, and women have been given clean passports and documents to reduce social stigmatization and facilitate social integration. Accommodation was initially provided in specially created adaptation centers. They received 24-hour support from social workers, psychologists, teachers, theologians and medical staff. Most of the children spoke Arabic, so we contacted Arabic language specialists. To help children integrate into society, individual learning programs were developed with the involvement of teachers, who taught classes in math, languages, and other subjects.
This rehabilitation stage lasted a month, after which the families were moved to the residence of relatives and friends. An important part of the rehabilitation program was focused on restoring family ties. The initial rehabilitation phase allowed the children to start school with other students, but the younger children were admitted to early childhood education centers and kindergartens. Families have also been provided with stationery, clothing and food supplies while they are put back on their feet. Overall, more than 300 specialists took part across the country. In addition to giving families and children a second chance, we believe this policy will help prevent radicalization and extreme violence in Kazakhstan, as many families spoke publicly about the atrocities they saw in Syria under ISIL. Our hope is that this will prevent others from wanting to join terrorist organizations.
We have certainly faced challenges along the way. Some children have tried to readjust. Some relatives and friends of the people who joined ISIL decided to cut off all relations with them, hindering their reintegration efforts. However, we believe that the decision to repatriate our citizens has been proclaimed and we are proud of the work we have done, including the support of UNICEF, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United States and other partners. The U.S. State Department, for example, is very grateful for Kazakhstan’s repatriation efforts, and plays an important role in helping the Kazakh authorities provide effective rehabilitation.
Unfortunately, many families from other countries are still stuck in Syria and Iraq. Authorities in these countries do not have enough resources to keep ISIL prisoners and their families captive permanently, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Other countries should therefore study the experience of Kazakhstan and also consider the repatriation of citizens.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the attitude of Al Jazeera’s editorial.
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