The twelve Dutch IS women that the cabinet collects from Syria are immediately arrested upon arrival in the Netherlands. Their children are cared for in a specialized institution, replies Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection) to parliamentary questions from the D66.
On Tuesday, 12 IS women and 28 children will be abducted from Syria. According to the ministry, it is the largest group of IS women and children who have so far been relocated to the Netherlands.
The group is suspected of terrorist offenses. The women are then arrested as soon as they arrive in the Netherlands. They are expected to appear in court soon, but it is unclear when.
Children are handed over to the Child Protection Office. In specialized institutions, for example, it is examined whether they are dealing with trauma. Experts also look at the ideology of these children and the possible radicalization.
In these institutions, children can also get used to their new environment. Most of the children are unfamiliar with the Netherlands due to their young age, writes Weerwind.
The government sees children as victims
The minister wants to reduce the risks of a possible radicalization as much as possible by putting children in a normal and safe environment. The cabinet sees children “as victims who are not responsible for their parents’ actions,” he writes.
After three months, the babies can be placed in a foster family if they are ready. Children remain under the supervision of an institution as long as the child protection measure is in place, even if the parent has been released from prison, Weerwind reports.
