Individuals who travelled to the Middle East to fight for Islamic State (also referred to as ISIS and Daesh), and then returned to the UK, must be held accountable for their actions, according to a report by a committee of MPs and peers. These individuals are believed to number more than 400.
ISIS, once in control of vast territories in Syria and Iraq, was responsible for extensive atrocities, including terror tactics, murder, and rape, often targeting groups such as the Yazidis.
Sky News has documented the impact of ISIS on the Yazidis in a recent documentary by special correspondent Alex Crawford.
Crawford, who testified before the Joint Committee on Human Rights, stressed the importance of prosecuting these individuals in British courts, rather than relying solely on local laws abroad. This stance is outlined in the committee’s report, which criticizes the lack of successful prosecutions for international crimes in the UK to date.
“British nationals committed heinous crimes under the Daesh regime, and we have a duty to ensure they are brought to justice,” stated Lord Alton, the chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights.
The report also calls for action to expedite the repatriation of children currently held in camps in northeast Syria, which are home to former ISIS fighters and their families.
The committee advises the government to use the Crime and Policing Bill to amend the law, addressing the difficulty in prosecuting international crimes in UK courts due to current service personnel laws applying only to UK nationals and residents.
Alex Crawford described the camps as places of “hopelessness and helplessness,” with children born into “dirty and disgusting conditions,” advocating for their release and proper care.
