Should we allow people who run off to Syria to fight to return home?

Question

People can be extremely brainwashed and when they get there realise it’s not what they thought and are terrified for their lives.
I’ve also heard people argue that they made their bed and they are a traitor to their country so they shouldn’t be helped.  
I realise it’s not a black and white issue.  Maybe if they somehow help their country by providing them with intelligence? Or prove that they are no longer radicalised?

Accepted Answer

Fight as in? Anyone training to be a terrorist should be punished if that’s what you’re trying to get at. People fighting for their loved ones back home? Not so much.

Answer

Not if they’re fighting in Syria as a terrorist. Absolutely not. They made their shitty choice, they can live with it.

Answer

we had a similar case to this last year (UK). 
i don’t know what the best solution is, and i think this is an incredibly complex topic, and i don’t think that those who run off to join the likes of ISIS do so spontaneously. 
Shamima Begum was stripped of her U.K. citizenship last year, and her family have been fighting to appeal the verdict since. and it’s quite a difficult case imo to reach a stance on. 
she ran off at age 15 to join ISIS, and married a dutch ISIS fighter 10 days after reaching Syria. 5 years later in February 2019 she was found in a refugee camp, and later that month the U.k. home secretary stripped her of her U.K. citizenship. 
the issue now is she’s essentially been left stateless. i believe she originally had a duel nationality before her U.K. citizenship was revoked, but there is the risk that she could be hung if ever returning to Bangladesh. 
in her families appeal, U.k. courts were told about how British nationals in the detention centres were at high risk to torture and cruel treatments. 
i absolutely understand the fear and concern of her coming back, or any returning jihadist, coming back only to spread extremism years down the line. or (god forbid) plan a terrorist attack. 
at the same time, it seems more humane to at least bring her back to the U.K. and try to de-radicalise her. i think there has to be a way to reach her, and get her to work past all the propaganda she was fed?
it’s difficult. i feel like it’s hard to come to a decision because what ISIS does and what ISIS stands for isn’t to be minimised.

Answer

This is actually a big topic here in France. French citizens left for Syria and Iraq to fight for ISIS. Now some want to come back and public opinion is very against it. But it’s not only an issue of the “fighters”, there are their families and children as well. I think they should at least try and help the children. 
I think the French courts could handle bringing the adults back and trying them. Because even some adults are claiming they were brainwashed and abused into going. It’s complex and probably depends case by case. The adults will probably face punishment and have to prove they’re integrated or not radicalized as you said.

Answer

Nope. I don’t have empathy for terrorist or terrorist sympathizers

Answer

They left to go fight FOR isis? Nope fuck that sorry not sorry. They decided to go be a terrorist.

Answer

I would say it depends. If the person in question was groomed for example then yes they should be able to come back. If they were grooming others then no. Similarly if they regret it then yes, if they would do it again then no. Anyone who returns should be watched for a while though, they do pose a national threat, they may need help/therapy, they'll be more prone to grooming, etc.

Answer

I think countries hold some level of responsibility for their citizens. Not allowing them back is basically telling another country that they're that country's problem now. 
If someone leaves to join a terrorist organization they should be allowed back and tried and jailed for terrorism.

Answer

People go back to syria to be with there family or try and get there family out, or fight against the regime which i 100% support the toppling of the assad regime. So yeah they can go and come back later if they want to

Answer

No. If you're an adult and choose to fight for a foreign enemy that is treason.

Should we allow people who run off to Syria to fight to return home?

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