Germany, Denmark bring back 37 children and 11 'IS women' from Syria
October 7, 2021, 4:00 am

Germany, Denmark bring back 37 children and 11 'IS women' from Syria

Refugee camp-Ball/Pixabay

The BBC reported, Germany says it has repatriated eight women, who had joined the so-called Islamic State (IS), and 23 children from a camp in northern Syria.

Germany's foreign ministry said, they were brought back in a joint operation with Denmark, who repatriated three women and 14 children.

Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the women were in custody and faced a criminal investigation.

Hundreds of Europeans who joined IS are in Kurdish-run camps in northern Syria.

They were moved there along with thousands of others who were displaced after IS was declared territorially defeated in Syria and Iraq in March 2019.

Germany's foreign ministry said the women and children arrived at Frankfurt airport on Wednesday evening from Roj detention camp in north-east Syria.

Mr Maas said he was "happy" that they were back in Germany but that "the mothers will have to answer for their acts".

"The children are not responsible for their situation," he said, saying that they "were in particular need of protection".

Many of the Europeans in the Syrian camps are suspected wives and children of IS fighters or sympathisers of the jihadist group.

Human rights groups have been urging governments to take their citizens back, arguing that leaving women and children in the camps puts them at risk of illness and radicalisation.

Germany jointly repatriated five women and 18 children from Syria with Finland in December; while Belgium brought home six mothers and 10 children in July.

Most governments are considering repatriations on a case-by-case basis, but some have been reluctant to bring back citizens out of security concerns.

One prominent example of this is Shamima Begum, the British schoolgirl who joined IS in 2015 and was later stripped of her UK citizenship on security grounds.

Source: BBC

India delivers Covid-19 vaccines to mountainous states by commercial drones US federal judge temporarily blocks enforcement of Texas abortion law

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.