Danish parties divided over repatriation of women, children from Syrian refugee camp

COPENHAGEN (AA) – Divisions have appeared within the Denmark’s ruling coalition over the issue of the repatriation of Danish women and children from the Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria.

A junior coalition partner, the Moderate party, wants Danish children to be repatriated even if it requires their mothers to be alongside them. The other two parties – the Social Democrats and Liberals – oppose the return of the women to Denmark as they say they have been sympathizers or spouses of ISIS militants.

Reports suggest that five children and three mothers with Danish backgrounds are in the camp, where they are serving sentences for an undefined period. Meanwhile, human rights organizations have expressed concern over the abysmal conditions at the camp and have questioned Danish authorities over the lack of action to repatriate children with Danish backgrounds.

The current government policy does not mandate the authorities to evacuate children from the camps without their guardians (mothers), while the mothers cannot be brought back home due to the revocation of their Danish citizenship.

The developments come against the backdrop of Norway repatriating two sisters from Syria along with their three children on the grounds of abysmal conditions in the camp.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has said at a parliamentary committee meeting that the government would announce its official policy on the issue “soon.”