My understanding of citizenship is that your country should take you back and punish you if that is appropriate. But nobody can be stateless in that they were born SOMEWHERE. I believe in citizenship of one country; I don't favor individuals shopping for several citizenships to hedge their bets. Pick a team!
2
To accept children with their mothers as 'humanitarian' is to ignore the reality of the horrors many of those mothers inflicted upon others. Which can never be proven or disproved.
16
I've no doubt that some of these children are too young to have been indoctrinated, but cannot say that for most. We all know that children are very susceptible to brainwashing, especially by the parents they trust.
What I do not understand is why middle eastern countries do not take these children. They share similar cultures and language. Why the West? No one can defend ISIS or their ideology, perhaps that is why middle eastern countries are not offering asylum? Or, perhaps their parents told them to request life in the West.
21
It is so very easy to be afraid isn't it?
These are children. What hope do we have of rehabilitating them in these desperate conditions?
I do understand the fear. These children are individuals. Some radicalized, some not.
Screen them, and if appropriate, return them. Quickly!
2
I totally agree with the position taken by almost all European countries. Let the Muslim countries which encouraged the rise of ISIS take them: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, etc. Western countries led by the US, UK and France, countries that supported anti-Assad actions, take some too. But expect orphans becoming Christian or other non-Muslim denominations.
23
Are the countries making a distinction between children born in the caliphate or taken there with the consent of both parents, and children kidnapped by one parent to join the Islamic State? I can't think of a worse fate than a partner stealing your children and taking them to join ISIS, but I've read several heartbreaking accounts of this happening. I hope the recovery of these stolen children are prioritized, followed by the orphans.
As to the others, indoctrinated by both parents and raised for years in ISIS or these camps...I completely understand the hesitation to take them back.
19
Bringing in the orphaned children that are later placed with relatives or foster families is one thing. Bringing in the children with parents is different. Those parents have demonstrated very clearly that they can be indoctrinated with murderous ideology. Even if they are tried and imprisoned for a period of time, I don't trust those parents to raise children who will not see them as martyrs, unjustly imprisoned for upholding the true faith. I am all for redemption if it's sincere, but I think many of those parents are not sincerely remorseful.
34
@NM
Yes. In case the children are to be placed with relatives, these people will have to be checked very, very well and in case of the smallest doubt, they will have to be controlled by social services for as long as they have responsibilty for the child.
6