Will France be forced to repatriate its jihadists?

It was just eight months ago. At the time, Donald Trump had raised the threat of a withdrawal of US troops in Syria. The prospect of abandoning the Kurds in the conflict and the possibility of a clash with Turkey pushed France
to review, for the first time, its policy of managing French jihadists detained in Syria. Edouard Philippe, the Prime Minister,
then pleaded for a repatriation of jihadist nationals: "Do we prefer that they be dispersed, that they join the ranks of Daesh or that they go to another country to continue to foment attacks? "

In vain. Faced with a public opinion reluctant to see the return of these fellow citizens in the ranks of Daesh to French soil, the government had backtracked. Since,
a handful of them have been repatriated from Turkey or Syria. But it is estimated that
400 to 500 French fighters would still be in jails and camps held by Kurds in northeastern Syria. Today, the Turkish offensive against these Kurdish allies rebates all the cards. What consequences can this operation have on the policy advocated so far by the Quai d'Orsay? 20 minutes make the point.

• Why does the Turkish operation change the situation?

The Minister of Armies, Florence Parly acknowledged in a tweet Wednesday, "the Turkish offensive in the north-east of Syria is dangerous. Dangerous for the safety of the Kurds. Dangerous because it is favorable to Daesh, against whom we have been fighting for five years. By deciding
to engage his troops on the Syrian border to face the Kurds, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, undermines the French position in many respects.

The Turkish offensive in northeastern Syria is dangerous. Dangerous for the safety of the Kurds. Dangerous because it is conducive to Daesh, against whom we have been fighting for 5 years. She must stop. France has therefore seized the UN Security Council, which will meet tomorrow.

– Florence Parly (@florence_parly) October 9, 2019

Financial and military support of the Kurds, France engaged in the international coalition has made the choice, for two years, to let its allies "manage" the detention of foreign jihadists captured in the region and held in several camps in north-eastern Syria. "If the clashes between Kurds and Turks intensify, the priority of the Kurds will be to stay alive and defend their people. They will say to the whole world and especially to Europeans: Take care of your prisoners! Karim Pakzad, researcher at the Institute of International and Strategic Relations (Iris) and a specialist in Syria joined by 20 minutes.

• Can France maintain its policy of leaving its citizens in the hands of the Kurds?

Despite the start of the Turkish offensive, France has so far not changed its position on its jihadist nationals detained in Syria by the Kurds. In an official statement released on October 7, the Quai d'Orsay declared: "Terrorist fighters who are in detention, including those of foreign nationality, must be judged where they committed their crimes. This judgment and their safe detention in northeastern Syria is also a security imperative to prevent them from reinforcing the ranks of terrorist groups. Any initiative that might call these objectives into question must be avoided ".

As a lawyer of several French women detained in Kurdish camps, Marie Dosé has trouble hiding her anger: "For two years now, I have said that repatriations are inevitable, from a humanitarian point of view, but also safe. What is happening has been anticipated by all the specialists of the anti-terrorism, by the NGOs on the spot, by the High Commission at the UN, by everybody, except by the French government ".

If not for the time being, not envisaged by the government, a repatriation in the present conditions seems anyway unlikely, considers Karim Pakzad. "Imagine for a moment that France decides to send a special commando to repatriate the French prisoners and that next to that, they give up the Kurds against Turkey? It is untenable. Especially since the air and ground operations have already begun, "notes the researcher.

• What are the alternatives ?

On this point, the opinions of the States diverge. The White House advocates the passing of European jihadists, whose capitals refuse repatriation, under the "responsibility" of the Turks. A solution rejected by France. "It would be morally unacceptable," comments Karim Pakzad, "it would be like saying to Turkey: you are allowed to destroy the Kurdish forces if you take care of our prisoners! "

Contacted by AFP, the Kurdish representative of the Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS), Khaled Issa, was reassuring: "On jihadists (foreigners), our cooperation (with France) continues, under difficult conditions. We maintain with strength and rigor our cooperation (…) We will try to juggle on several fronts with the means at our disposal. "

Marie Dosé, she is particularly pessimistic about the fate of French jihadists and their families: "Either they will eventually die under the bombs of Erdogan, or they will disperse. By its inertia for two years, France strengthens Daesh and threatens us. And it's an eternal beginning. That's exactly what happened in Iraq
and that led to the creation of Daesh. Terrorism is made. It's a huge scandal. "