Iraq rejects Syria’s request to take back 4,000 suspected IS detainees
Baghdad says prisoners suspected of crimes in Iraq will face Iraqi investigations and trials, while it seeks international help with detention costs.
Iraq has declined a Syrian request to repatriate about 4,000 Syrian nationals transferred from detention centres in northeast Syria this year and suspected of Islamic State links. National Security Adviser Qasim al-Aboudi said Baghdad will investigate the detainees and prosecute anyone found to have committed crimes in Iraq under Iraqi law.
Iraq has returned roughly 50 Syrians deemed not to be IS members, while around 400 of those still held are considered senior figures in the group, al-Aboudi said. He added that Baghdad has requested $500 million in assistance from the US and other coalition partners to help cover the cost of housing the prisoners.
Original reporting: Associated Press ↗