Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed that foreign ISIS detainees will be prosecuted in Iraq if their home countries refuse to repatriate them. He stressed that Baghdad is in continuous communication with those countries to facilitate their return. He also noted that the delay in forming a new government is due to disagreements over choosing a prime minister, and he warned that the confrontation between the United States and Iran could negatively affect Iraq. He described any alternative to negotiations between Washington and Tehran as catastrophic, expressed Iraq’s support for normal relations with Syria, and voiced concern about active ISIS cells near the border.
He explained that foreign ISIS fighters come from more than 40 countries and that Iraq is coordinating with their governments to repatriate them, though he expects some states to refuse to take their citizens back.
He added that some European countries use legal constraints as a pretext for not accepting the return of their fighters. He emphasized that if they refuse, the detainees will remain in Iraq and face trial there, noting that judicial procedures may take a long time due to the large number of detainees.