France snubs Trump鈥檚 appeal to repatriate Daesh fighters en masse, for now

Above, activists hold a banner reading 鈥楶rotect the French against Daesh鈥� near a makeshift memorial set-up on October 2, 2017 in Marseille. French government policy had been to categorically refuse to take back Daesh fighters and their wives. (AFP)
  • US-backed fighters appear poised to capture Daesh鈥檚 last enclave in Syria
  • French government policy had been to categorically refuse to take back Daesh fighters and their wives

PARIS: France will for now not act on US President Donald Trump鈥檚 call for European allies to repatriate hundreds of Daesh fighters from Syria, taking back militants on a 鈥渃ase-by-case鈥� basis, its justice minister said on Monday.
US-backed fighters appear poised to capture Daesh鈥檚 last enclave in Syria and Trump on Saturday pressed France, Britain and Germany to bring home more than 800 captured Daesh fighters and put them on trial.
Trump has sworn to pull US forces from Syria after Daesh鈥檚 territorial defeat, raising concerns in Paris and other European capitals that militants from their countries could disperse and try to return to their home countries.
鈥淭here is a new geo-political context, with the US withdrawal. For the time being we are not changing our policy,鈥� Belloubet told France 2 television. 鈥淎t this stage France is not responding to (Trump鈥檚) demands.鈥�
French government policy had been to categorically refuse to take back fighters and their wives. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian referred to them as 鈥渆nemies鈥� of the nation who should face justice either in Syria or Iraq.
But the prospect of the United States鈥� withdrawal from Syria has forced France to prepare for the return of dozens of French militants held by US-backed Kurdish authorities, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner acknowledged in late January.
Paris is already trying to repatriate minors on a case-by-case basis.
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces are holding about 150 French citizens in northeastern Syria, including 50 adults, military and diplomatic sources say.
Germany, too, was cool toward Trump鈥檚 demands, saying it could only take back Daesh fighters if the suspects had consular access.