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| Islamic State captives 'must be tried or freed', says UN's Bachelet | Islamic State captives 'must be tried or freed', says UN's Bachelet |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The UN says tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters and family members being held in Iraq and Syria must be tried or released. | The UN says tens of thousands of Islamic State fighters and family members being held in Iraq and Syria must be tried or released. |
| Human rights chief Michelle Bachelet also called on countries to take responsibility for their citizens and take them back them if not charged. | |
| She said that children in particular had suffered "grievous violations" of their human rights. | She said that children in particular had suffered "grievous violations" of their human rights. |
| The last IS strongholds fell in March and some 55,000 people are being held. | The last IS strongholds fell in March and some 55,000 people are being held. |
| What has Ms Bachelet said? | What has Ms Bachelet said? |
| The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said there should be no doubt about what must happen to those being detained. | The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said there should be no doubt about what must happen to those being detained. |
| "Accountability through fair trials protects societies from future radicalisation and violence," she said, adding that continuing to detain individuals not suspected of crimes was not acceptable. | "Accountability through fair trials protects societies from future radicalisation and violence," she said, adding that continuing to detain individuals not suspected of crimes was not acceptable. |
| She added: "Foreign family members should be repatriated, unless they are to be prosecuted for crimes in accordance with international standards." | She added: "Foreign family members should be repatriated, unless they are to be prosecuted for crimes in accordance with international standards." |
| Ms Bachelet highlighted in particular the plight of children born to IS fighters, reported to number about 29,000. | Ms Bachelet highlighted in particular the plight of children born to IS fighters, reported to number about 29,000. |
| "States should provide the same access to nationality for children born to their nationals in conflict zones as is otherwise applicable. | "States should provide the same access to nationality for children born to their nationals in conflict zones as is otherwise applicable. |
| "To inflict statelessness on children who have already suffered so much is an act of irresponsible cruelty," she said. | "To inflict statelessness on children who have already suffered so much is an act of irresponsible cruelty," she said. |
| Who are the captives and where are they being held? | Who are the captives and where are they being held? |
| A vast number are at al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria, which has seen a huge increase since the collapse of the last IS strongholds in Syria. | A vast number are at al-Hol camp in north-eastern Syria, which has seen a huge increase since the collapse of the last IS strongholds in Syria. |
| About 1,000 foreign IS fighters were captured by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces but several hundred have already been transferred to Iraq for trial. Those remaining are mostly family members. | About 1,000 foreign IS fighters were captured by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces but several hundred have already been transferred to Iraq for trial. Those remaining are mostly family members. |
| The UN says there are about 29,000 children of foreign IS fighters in Syria, 20,000 of them from Iraq, but overall there are about 50 nationalities. | The UN says there are about 29,000 children of foreign IS fighters in Syria, 20,000 of them from Iraq, but overall there are about 50 nationalities. |
| However, as most of the children were born in Syria, the governments of parents' nations have often refused to recognise them. | However, as most of the children were born in Syria, the governments of parents' nations have often refused to recognise them. |
| France, Russia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands have taken back some. Australia also confirmed it had evacuated six children from a "bleak and complicated'' situation at a Syrian refugee camp. | France, Russia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands have taken back some. Australia also confirmed it had evacuated six children from a "bleak and complicated'' situation at a Syrian refugee camp. |
| But many nations have shown unwillingness to allow repatriation. They fear prosecutions of IS fighters may be difficult and public opinion is often strongly against repatriation. | But many nations have shown unwillingness to allow repatriation. They fear prosecutions of IS fighters may be difficult and public opinion is often strongly against repatriation. |
| Researchers estimate that more than 40,000 foreigners from 80 countries joined IS in Iraq and Syria between April 2013 and June 2018. | Researchers estimate that more than 40,000 foreigners from 80 countries joined IS in Iraq and Syria between April 2013 and June 2018. |
| Iraq has offered to try all foreign fighters captured in Syria. Several Frenchmen are among those so far sentenced to death since being transferred. | Iraq has offered to try all foreign fighters captured in Syria. Several Frenchmen are among those so far sentenced to death since being transferred. |
| What is al-Hol like? | What is al-Hol like? |
| Ms Bachelet said conditions there were "deeply substandard". | Ms Bachelet said conditions there were "deeply substandard". |
| The camp has seen an increase from 11,000 people to more than 70,000 following the collapse of the last IS bastion at Baghouz. | The camp has seen an increase from 11,000 people to more than 70,000 following the collapse of the last IS bastion at Baghouz. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville visited in April and said it appeared "ready to burst". | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville visited in April and said it appeared "ready to burst". |
| He said hundreds of children brought from Baghouz had died and the rest were at risk from sickness and disease. | He said hundreds of children brought from Baghouz had died and the rest were at risk from sickness and disease. |
| Iraq was preparing camps on the other side of the border to take back its citizens but the fate of other women and children remained unanswered, he reported. | Iraq was preparing camps on the other side of the border to take back its citizens but the fate of other women and children remained unanswered, he reported. |