French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian held talks in Baghdad Thursday to discuss transferring foreign Islamic State fighters from Syria to Iraq – where they would stand trial.
European countries want to move thousands of foreign militants out of prison camps in Syria, where a Turkish offensive has spurred fears that some of the 12,000 suspected jihadists will escape detention.
Le Drian said he and Iraqi leaders discussed the implementation of an “appropriate judicial mechanism" to try French and other fighters currently being held by Syrian Kurds.
Several European countries have discussed setting up an international court in Iraq for putting foreign IS fighters on trial.Now, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will discuss the needed judicial framework in an upcoming visit to Iraq. https://t.co/TZqPn9MdnC
The New Arab (@The_NewArab) October 16, 2019
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One sticking point will be Iraq's use of the death penalty, which is banned in the EU. Earlier this year, 11 French jihadists handed to Iraqi authorities were sentenced to death by a court in Baghdad.
The Iraqi government is seeking millions of dollars in financial compensation for taking European fighters.
