Washington Post: 50 Fighters Returning to Georgia from Iraq and Syria

The Washington Post has published an article, according to which some of the 40,000 Islamic State (IS) supporters who joined in the fight in Iraq and Syria, are returning home.

The title of the publication is “Now that the Islamic State has fallen in Iraq
and Syria, where are all its fighters going?” and it reads that a study by the Soufan Center and the Global Strategy Network has tracked down 5,600 fighters from 33 countries who have returned to their home countries.

“This represents a huge challenge for security and law enforcement entities,” the study reads

The study “Beyond the caliphate: Foreign Fighters and the Threat of Returnees” suggests that more than 200 people went to fight and joined jihad in Iraq and Syria from Georgia, with around 50 of them already returned to their homeland and more than 50 still remaining.

The Washington Post says that, from more than any other country, 900 fighters are returning to Turkey, while the number of returns to Europe is 1,200: 400 to the United Kingdom, 271 to France and about 300 to Germany. Of the 3,400 Russians who joined the fight in Syria and Iraq; 400 are returning.

Northern Africa is also a hot spot for returning fighters, with 800 coming home to Tunisia and nearly 200 to Morocco.

According to the report, seven fighters are returning to the United States. More than 250 Americans attempted to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, with 129 travelling to join the fight. As of August 2017, the United States charged 135 people with terrorism-related offenses for their interactions with the Islamic State, and 77 have been convicted thus far.

“These countries haven’t figured out how to address the returnees. Many are imprisoned, while others may be rehabilitated. These rehabilitation programs are difficult to design and run. Returning women and children born while their parents fought in Iraq and Syria present other challenges for re-integration. While the returning fighters have not been directly responsible for any terror attacks or threats, they serve as an inspiration or model for those who might become radicalized or are becoming radicalized,” the article reads.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee of Georgia, Irakli Sesiashvili, does not agree with the information provided by Washington Post. According to him, not 200, but more like dozens of people were fighting in the Islamic State from Georgia, adding that the majority of these were killed.

“I think the ones who survived will not have any wish to return to Georgia after we have tightened the legislation. In case of their return, they will be immediately held responsible according to the criminal law of Georgia,” Sesiashvili stressed.

By Thea Morrison

Photo source: Washington Post