Trump’s request to repatriate ISIS militants in droves rejected by France

An appeal made by US President Donald Trump to European allies requesting the repatriation of hundreds of Islamic State fighters from Syria has been rejected by the French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet.

According to Belloubet, France will for now not act on Trump’s call after he pressed other countries including Britain and Germany to bring home more than 800 captured Islamic State fighters and put them on trial.

“There is a new geo-political context, with the U.S. withdrawal. For the time being we are not changing our policy,” Belloubet told France 2 television. “At this stage France is not responding to (Trump’s) demands.”

Read also: I don’t regret joining ISIS, it made me stronger, 19-yr-old UK teen says

Reports say there have been fears raised in Paris and other European capitals that jihadists from their countries could disperse and try to return to their home countries from Syria after Islamic State’s territorial defeat.

French government policy had been to categorically refuse to take back fighters and their wives. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian referred to them as “enemies” of the nation who should face justice either in Syria or Iraq.

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