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ICCT in the Media: Thomas Renard on France's refusal to repatriate a critically ill FTF

January 10, 2022

On 15 December 2021, ICCT Director Thomas Renard was asked by the New York Times to comment on the recent refusal by France to repatriate a critically ill foreign terrorist fighter (FTF), who later went on to perish in a detention camp in Syria. In this piece, Thomas notes that this is likely the first reported death of a woman from Europe in one of these camps.

Read the full article below. 

 

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The Use and Abuse of Administrative Measures against FTFs in France - France is one of the countries where so-called ‘administrative measures’ are applied to address foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and respond to the terrorism threat they pose. This Perspective argues that, while there can be valid reasons to resort to such measures as part of counter-terrorism strategies, their use (and abuse) in France and elsewhere raises numerous concerns with regard to due process guarantees and human rights more generally.

The Repatriation of Foreign Fighters and Their Families: Options, Obligations, Morality and Long-Term Thinking- when the Islamic State (IS) lost control of its so-called Caliphate, the question on what to do with foreign fighters and their families became more pertinent. This Perspective discusses the issue of the repatriation of foreign fighters and their families, addressing several options, and taking into account legal, moral, and (long-term) security perspectives.

European countries are being challenged in court to repatriate their foreign fighters and families - when it comes to repatriation, so far, European countries have often only been willing to repatriate orphans. This perspective examines the different arguments for and against the repatriation of FTF's and their families, based on both international law and the domestic law of individual European countries .

France Refused to Repatriate a Sick Woman who Joined the Islamic State. She Died.