PARIS

The French Foreign Ministry said that it does not want its nationals who are detained in northeastern Syria for their alleged membership in the Daesh/ISIS terror group to face trial in France.

Anadolu asked Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Christophe Lemoine if France is considering bringing back French nationals “held by the Syrian Democratic Forces -- mostly composed of members of the YPG/PKK terrorist group -- to put them on trial?"

“There are many French nationals detained in northeastern Syria. Let me reiterate, these individuals went to Syria by their own decision to fight in the ranks of Daesh/ISIS,” Lemoine responded in a weekly news conference.

“In our view, they should be tried in the nearest place to where the crimes were committed. This has always been a principle we have been consistent about.”

“In our opinion, justice should be served, and it should be served where the events took place,” he said.

Lemoine underlined that Paris makes a small distinction regarding children brought by their families. “They are not responsible for this situation and did not choose to join this case.”

“Therefore, for some time, since 2019, we have been conducting transfer operations for minor French nationals, with the consent of their parents. That is the reality,” he said.

Lemoine said the PKK is an organization listed as a terror group by the EU.

“The PKK should be distinguished from non-violent Kurdish movements, and I would like to remind you that we have had discussions with Türkiye regarding this matter,” he noted.

Asked about Türkiye’s operational support to the new Syrian government in camps like Al Hol, where French Daesh/ISIS members are held, Lemoine said: "I will not comment on Türkiye’s choices in this matter.”

France’s policy has drawn international criticism. Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan recently accused Paris of avoiding responsibility to repatriate detained nationals, and he urged France to prosecute them domestically to address security concerns.