Global Affairs Canada is coordinating the repatriation of six children, aged between five and 12, from a detention camp in Syria. The children, whose Canadian mother remains in the camp, will be returning to Canada under the care of the Polarization Clinic in Montreal, which specializes in assisting families affected by radicalization.
Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, representing the mother, confirmed that the government has chosen to bring back the children, who lack family in Montreal and face the prospect of foster care if their mother is not present in Canada. Greenspon revealed that the mother, now out of the camp, expresses a desire to reunite with her children and intends to find a way back to Canada.
Despite the mother’s plea for repatriation, the federal government has declined to facilitate her return, citing security concerns. While other Canadian women have been repatriated from Syrian camps, officials have implemented measures such as terrorist peace bonds to mitigate potential risks.
The decision to separate the children’s repatriation from their mother’s underscores the complex circumstances facing foreign nationals detained in Syrian camps. With no definitive timeline for the children’s return, Greenspon remains hopeful that the government will prioritize their safety and expedite their repatriation to Canada.
This report by The Canadian Press was initially released on April 9, 2024.