Shamima Begum’s former lawyer believes a political resolution for British women and children detained in Syria for links to ISIS is more likely now that the camps housing them will be handed over to the Syrian government.
Tasnim Akunjee, who represented Ms Begum and her family in the UK, hopes the authorities in Damascus will negotiate with European governments to repatriate their citizens who have been detained in the camps of Al Hol and Al Roj since the defeat of ISIS in Syria in 2019.
The camps have been controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces for the past 10 years, after they received US military backing to fight ISIS. But they will now be handed over to the Syrian government after a tense and fragile agreement.
“Her life and circumstances are purely politically dictated,” Mr Akunjee told The National. “They will fall within Syria proper. There will most likely be a political resolution.”
Lawyer Tasnime Akunjee represented the families of Shamima Begum and two other British schoolgirls missing in Syria. Getty Images
The logic of those previously in charge in Syria differed markedly from the current government led by Ahmad Al Shara.
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.