UK government must not 'wash its hands of British-born ISIS fighters'
The UK has not yet 'successfully' prosecuted former ISIS fighters war crimes committed in Syria and Iraq, despite the possible involvement of British citizens, a report has found.
The terrorist group was accused of genocide by the UK government for the killing of about 5,000 Yazidis, and the kidnapping of women and children belonging to the minority group in Iraq in 2014.
Yet hundreds of ISIS fighters who are believed to have 'returned' to the UK after the group was defeated by a US-led coalition in 2017 have yet to be prosecuted for their potential involvement in genocide, crimes against humanity or other war crimes, a report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights found.
The report was based on two inquiries with evidence from barrister Amal Clooney, independent terrorism reviewer Jonathan Hall KC, the Met Police's counter-terrorism unit and the Crown Prosecution Service.
It found police and the Crown Prosecution Service were too 'focused' on bringing former ISIS fighters to justice on terrorism charges, causing them to overlook potential war crimes investigations.
The UK was also constrained by its own war crime laws, namely the International Criminal Court Act 2001, which meant it could prosecute only crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes suspected of being committed by British citizens or residents.
Committee chairman Lord David Alton accused the government of trying to 'simply wash its hands' of issue of foreign ISIS fighters because the group carried out its atrocities overseas. It was 'unacceptable' that no successful prosecutions had yet taken place, he added.
'We know that British nationals committed the most horrendous crimes in Iraq and Syria under the Daesh regime and we have a duty to see them brought to justice,' he said. 'We want to see more action from the government in identifying the perpetrators, some of whom may have returned to Britain, others likely detained in camps in Syria. This will require better co-ordination from law enforcement and criminal justice, and also the removal of barriers preventing some prosecutions."
The committee has called for the ICC Act to be amended through the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently being debated by Parliament.
The inquiry also examined the issues of British ISIS fighters who have been detained since 2017 in north-eastern Syria, often with family members.
It called for "greater transparency" in the UK's policy of stripping British ISIS members of their citizenship. Shamima Begum, who travelled to ISIS-held territory a decade ago, aged 15, is the most famous example of the state's use of this power.
But the report said the UK "uses deprivation of citizenship orders more than almost any country in the world", and ministers must account for this.
About 20 British families are believed to be detained in camps in north-east Syria, in conditions which Lord Alton described as "deplorable". Women and children account for a high number of those detained, the report said. The committee called on the government to repatriate children and minors 'where feasible as soon as possible'.
'It is in the UK's interest to ensure they do not become a new generation of the radicalised and they must be brought home," Lord Alton said.
Proper identification of British citizens detained in Syria was also needed enable international war crimes prosecutions.
'The Government should step up efforts to identify British nationals currently held in camps in Syria. Where there is sufficient evidence that international crimes were committed, they should be prosecuted,' the report said.
About 850 British citizens are known to have travelled to join the group, which took over large parts of Iraq and Syria. An estimated 425 British nationals who joined IS in Iraq and Syria were believed to have returned to the UK in 2017, the UK government said that year.
Two British-born ISIS fighters, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, were stripped of their citizenship and sentenced to life in jail in the US in 2022.
Aine Davis, who was part of the same ISIS cell, sentenced in the UK to eight years in jail for funding terrorism in 2023.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Syria receives major wave of investments in six months since Assad's fall
Syria has attracted growing international investment and aid commitments in the six months since the fall of the regime of former president Bashar Al Assad, as the country seeks to rebuild its shattered economy. This rapid influx of investment marks a stark contrast to the years of economic decline and isolation that defined the country's post-2011 era. Since Mr Al Assad's departure last December, investors from across the region and beyond have started to take a stake in Syria's post-conflict recovery. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were among the first nations to endorse the country's new leadership, with President Ahmad Al Shara invited to visit all three countries a handful of times since he took office in a bid to secure economic support. Major commitments include a $7 billion energy infrastructure deal led by Qatar's UCC Holding, a $6.5 billion aid pledge from international donors and an $800 million port development agreement with Dubai-based DP World. Half a century of recovery Despite the momentum, Syria's reconstruction needs range between $400 billion, according to the World Bank, and $1 trillion, as estimated by Mohammad Al-Shaar, Syria's Minister of Economy and Industry, last month. In February 2025, the UNDP published a report in which it estimated that Syria's economy could take half a century to recover to prewar levels. Before the 2011 uprising, Syria's economy was valued at $67.5 billion, ranking 68th globally and comparable to economies like Paraguay and Slovenia according to the World Bank. By 2023, however, years of conflict and sanctions had reduced the country's gross domestic product by 85 per cent to just $9 billion, placing it 129th in the global rankings. Between 2000 and 2010, Syria enjoyed steady economic growth averaging 4.5 per cent annually, with inflation below 5 per cent. At its peak, nominal GDP reached $60 billion, and the average income per member of the population approached $3,000. People power Despite the investments and interest, a key challenge will be getting the country workforce-ready. The prolonged war in Syria has displaced millions, with more than 6.2 million Syrians registered as refugees, and an additional 7.2 million internally displaced. This mass displacement has resulted in a substantial reduction in the available labour force, particularly in critical sectors such as construction and health care. A significant portion of the population has also experienced disruptions in education and vocational training, leading to a skills gap that hampers reconstruction efforts. To address these challenges, new initiatives like cash-for-work programmes have been introduced. These programmes aim to provide immediate employment opportunities while simultaneously rebuilding essential infrastructure. They also offer on-the-job training, helping to bridge the skills gap and empower communities to participate actively in the nation's recovery.
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Who are leading candidates in Iraq's parliamentary elections?
On November 11, Iraqis will head to the polls in their country's sixth parliamentary elections since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein 's regime. These elections are expected to be highly competitive and much depends upon their outcome. A radical change to the structure of the political system, which has been in place since 2003, is not expected. Rather, the outcomes are likely to recalibrate the weights of the traditional political parties and therefore the distribution of power and influence within the ruling structure. The polls will be governed by an electoral law that was amended in March 2023 despite objections from protesters and independent politicians. These amendments could make it harder for independent candidates and small parties to compete against bigger parties and to reach the legislative body. There is no indication whether or not the powerful Shiite cleric and political leader Moqtada Al Sadr will take part in the elections. Mr Al Sadr withdrew from the political process when he failed to form a majority government with only Sunni and Kurdish parties after winning 73 of the 329 seats in parliament in the 2021 polls. Iran-backed armed factions are seeking political clout after coming under unprecedented pressure since the start of the war on Gaza. They are either standing in the elections alone or within coalitions. According to the Independent High Electoral Commission, there are 343 registered political parties in the country, and another 60 are being formed. Of those, 118 parties and 25 coalitions have confirmed their participation in November's elections, according to the commission. The nature of these coalitions reflects the divisions among the main three ethnic and religious groups: Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. They also reflect the desire of the powerful political players to reduce their rivals' influence within each group and exclude them from the decision-making centres. What are the main coalitions? The Reconstruction and Development Coalition This coalition is led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who is attempting to create a new equation in the competition among the Shiite parties, setting his eyes on a second term in office. The coalition consists of several political groups, as well as political and economic figures. Among his main allies are the US-sanctioned chairman of the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) Falih Al Fayyadh, and the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Ahmed Al Asadi, who also leads Kataib Jund Al Imam armed faction. Others are the National Coalition led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, the National Alliance of Solutions led by one of the PM's advisers, Mohammed Sahib Al Daraji, Karbala Creativity Alliance and The Generations Gathering. The biggest challenge facing Mr Al Sudani's coalition is lack of support from key factions within the Coordination Framework, an umbrella group of Iran-backed political parties and militias which controls the majority of seats in parliament. Top among them is the State of Law Coalition led by former prime minster Nouri Al Maliki. State of Law Coalition This is considered one of the most prominent Shiite alliances. It has grassroots support in central and southern parts of the country, relying heavily on the weight of Mr Al Maliki, who served two terms in office from 2006 to 2014 and still has significant influence within state institutions. One of Mr Al Maliki's strategies is to form or support lists in Sunni and Sunni-dominated areas to expand his influence and weaken his rivals. For the first time in years, Mr Al Maliki announced he is running in the elections, in a move seen as an attempt to counter Mr Al Sudani. Badr List It is led by senior politician Hadi Al Amiri, who heads the Badr Brigade, one of the oldest Iran-aligned militias, which dates back to 1980s Iraq-Iran war. Other medium-sized and small militia groups have joined the list in some parts of the country. Like the head of the State of Law Coalition, Mr Al Amiri is running for the first time in years. Al Sadiqoun List This is affiliated to the influential Asaib Ahl Al Haq armed faction led by Shiite cleric Qais Al Khazali. AAH is one of the main backers of Mr Al Sudani's government and its members hold senior government positions. In December 2019, the Treasury Department blacklisted Mr Al Khazali, along with two militia leaders. The National State Forces Alliance The coalition is led by Shiite cleric Ammar Al Hakim. One of his main allies is former prime minister Haider Al Abadi, who oversaw the fight against ISIS from 2014 to the end of 2017 when he announced that the group had been defeated. The coalition presents itself as a moderate and a reformist political group that seeks to move beyond the sectarian divisions. It relies heavily on the symbolic stature of Mr Al Hakim, who is from a prominent Shiite religious family. The Hoquq Movement A political group backed by Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful armed faction within the Axis of Resistance – an Iran-backed umbrella group for militias in the region. It sent fighters to Syria after civil war broke out in 2011 to support president Bashar Al Assad and launched attacks against US troops in Iraq and Syria. Takadum Coalition This is led by former parliament speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi, who has emerged as a prominent Sunni political leader in recent years. Most of his support comes from his home province of Al Anbar, in western Iraq, where he formerly served as governor. The alliance also includes independent politicians, technocrats and tribal leaders from Al Anbar and other Sunni-dominated provinces. Siyada Coalition The coalition is led by Sunni tycoon Khamis Al Khanjar. In 2021, it emerged as the largest Sunni coalition but it quickly disintegrated when Mr Al Halbousi broke away. Mr Al Khanjar enjoys tribal support mainly in Al Anabr and Salaheddin provinces as well as regional support from countries such as Turkey and Qatar. Azem Alliance Led by Sunni politician Muthana Al Samarraie, this coalition emerged in 2021 following deep disagreements and political divisions between Mr Al Khanjar and Mr Al Halbousi. The Kurdistan Democratic Party One of the two major parties in the Iraq Kurdish region, it is led by prominent Kurdish politician Masoud Barzani. KDP dominates the provinces of Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region, and Dahuk, maintaining control over the regional government and presidency. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan This is the KDP's main rival, which is led by Bafel Talabani and controls Sulaymaniyah and Halabja provinces. Both KDP and PUK, who have a delicate power-sharing arrangement to run the region, used to run national elections in one list along with other small Kurdish parties, but in recent years they have participated separately. The New Generation Movement It is the newest and most dynamic opposition political party in the Kurdistan region, led by businessman Shaswar Abdul Wahid. It was established as a popular reaction to what was widely perceived as corruption and monopolisation of power by the two traditional parties KDP and PUK. October 2024 parliamentary elections in the region.
The National
11 hours ago
- The National
Syria's interim President Al Sharaa makes first visit to Daraa, birthplace of country's uprising
Syria 's interim President, Ahmad Al Shara, made a symbolic visit on Friday to the southern city of Daraa – the cradle of the country's uprising, for the first time since longtime ruler Bashar Al Assad was ousted almost six months ago. State news agency Sana published video showing a cheering crowd greeting Mr Al Shara, who was seen waving and shaking hands with people during the visit, which came on the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha. Mr Al Shara and Interior Minister Anas Khattab visited Daraa's historic Omari mosque during the trip, the presidency said in a statement, releasing images of the visit showing the leader among the crowd. The mosque was one of the central locations where demonstrators gathered in 2011 before local security stormed the area. Sana also said Mr Shara met with local civil and military officials, as well as a delegation from the Christian minority. Provincial governor Anwar Al Zoabi said in a statement that the visit was 'an important milestone in the course of national recovery'. In 2011, protests erupted after the arrest and torture in Daraa of a group of schoolboys who had spray-painted anti-government graffiti. This sparked mass demonstrations against the Assad government. The regime's violent response to the peaceful protests was a key catalyst that transformed local protests into a nationwide uprising. On December 6, as Mr Al Shara's Islamist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham led a lightning offensive on Damascus from the country's north-west, a coalition of armed groups from Daraa province was formed to help remove Mr Al Assad. He was toppled two days later.
