In Syria’s Al-Hol and Roj camps, over 476 Moroccan women and children face severe hardship and delayed repatriation efforts. With roots tracing back to 2011 and ongoing political complexities, the Moroccan government grapples with the balance of security concerns and humanitarian obligations. Conditions in the camps threaten to breed new extremism, making the situation urgent for intervention.
In the Al-Hol and Roj camps of northeastern Syria, over 476 Moroccan women and children live in dire conditions, facing malnourishment and fear of violence amid stalled repatriation efforts. As one woman expressed, “We don’t sleep at night; if fighting erupts, we’re all going to die.” This precarious situation continues as many of these individuals are linked to families of IS fighters.
The Moroccan diaspora to Syria began in 2011, with 1,659 Moroccans leaving, many seeking to escape poverty or drawn to extremist ideologies. Since then, 745 have died, while 270 were arrested upon return under stringent anti-terrorism laws. The fate of approximately 88 Moroccan men remains uncertain as they remain imprisoned, raising concerns about their status and treatment.
Rabat’s hesitation to repatriate its citizens is partly due to political and security issues. Despite re-establishing contact with Syria following the Assad regime’s fall, negotiations for the return of detainees have stalled. The Moroccan king’s recent acknowledgment of Syria’s interim president shows potential progress but leads to no tangible outcomes thus far.
Conditions are similarly grim in Iraq, where nine Moroccan prisoners face severe treatment and some have been sentenced to life, with claims of torture in their trials. Many returning Moroccans struggle with a lack of legal documentation from their time imprisoned, leaving them in precarious situations back home.
Moroccan authorities are wary of security threats posed by returning citizens, fearing radicalization from IS backgrounds. Recent arrests linked to IS serve as a reminder of these concerns. However, local rights groups argue that neglecting these families risks fostering resentment, which may lead to increased extremism.
Inside the Syrian camps, malnutrition, lack of medical care, and educational deprivation for children are rampant, raising alarms about potential future radicalization. The coordination advocating for their repatriation argues that the Moroccan government must prioritize this situation as a critical security issue in order to mitigate these risks.
The situation of Moroccan women and children in Syrian camps remains critical, plagued by dire humanitarian conditions and uncertainty regarding their repatriation. Despite negotiations showing tentative signs of progress, political and security concerns hinder their return. The Moroccan government is at a crossroads, needing to balance security with humanitarian responsibilities to prevent future extremism. Without intervention, conditions are likely to worsen, potentially creating new cycles of radicalization.
Original Source: www.newarab.com
