Grapperhaus: more escapes from Syrian refugee camps | Inland

The escapes are worrying because it was previously known that the Al-Hol refugee camp, where Dutch Syria travelers also reside, is a breeding ground for radicalization and recruitment by the terrorist movement Islamic State (IS). The minister also warns that compared to last year, IS appears to be showing ‘a little more activity’.

“Al-Hol has been populated by people from diverse backgrounds since the camp was founded. Some of these people are disappointed in ISIS and the jihadist ideology. Another part has never said goodbye to ISIS or its jihadist ideology. And yet others have once again been radicalized and thus may be more prone to recruitment by ISIS. These situations can also apply to Dutch women, ”says Grapperhaus.

In any case, the population of Al-Hol camp also includes Syria-goers with Dutch nationality. According to the minister, there are ‘indications’ that ‘one or more Dutch women’ have escaped from the reception camps in northern Syria since 30 June.

D66 Member of Parliament Sjoerd Sjoerdsma fears that under-the-radar Syria goers are trying to return to the Netherlands. “If I were the minister, I would have a stomach ache. Again, Syria fighters and IS people who should be tried have escaped and are escaping their punishment. ”

At the beginning of October it was announced that dozens of Dutch IS women were transferred from Al-Hol to the more highly secured prison camp Al-Roj. This would make escape more difficult.

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