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France, Iraq to Mull Framework for Extremist Trials

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Wednesday he would discuss a judicial framework for putting extremists on trial during a visit to Iraq, as calls grow for an international court to judge them.
"We need to work things out with the Iraqi authorities so that we can find a way to have a judicial mechanism that is able to judge all these fighters, including obviously the French fighters," he told BFM-TV.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe later said Le Drian would head to Iraq "as soon as tonight" to work on potential means for trying detained insurgents.
"A certain number of those held in Syria by the Kurds committed crimes in Iraq, which means that they can be held accountable there," he said.
Seven European countries -- France, Britain, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark -- have been discussing in recent months the creation of an international court in Iraq for putting foreign ISIS extremists on trial.
Officials from all seven countries took part in a technical mission to Baghdad to assess the situation.
They said they had learned from the Iraqi authorities about "the daunting task they are facing in bringing ISIS to justice and rebuilding the society."
A major issue will be Iraq's use of the death penalty, which is outlawed throughout the EU.
Hundreds of foreigners have been sentenced to death or life imprisonment in Iraq for belonging to ISIS.
A dozen French extremists held by Kurdish forces in northern Syria were already handed over to the Iraqi authorities at the end of January to be put on trial, though Le Drian said further transfers were not planned at the moment.
Eight French citizens have been sentenced to death in Iraq but none of the executions have been carried out.
The technical mission said it had reiterated opposition to the death penalty "in all places and in all circumstances" to the Iraqi authorities.
There have been concerns that the Turkish offensive in northern Syria targeting Kurdish forces could lead to a mass prison breakout of extremists captured by the Kurds.
But Le Drian said the security of Kurdish-run prisons holding suspected extremists in northern Syria was "currently" not threatened by the Turkish military operation.
"To my knowledge, the Turkish offensive and the positioning of the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) have so far not led to the safety and security of these camps... currently being threatened," he said.
Turkey on Monday accused Kurdish forces of deliberately releasing ISIS prisoners held at a prison in the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad "in an attempt to fuel chaos in the area".
Le Drian said nine French women had escaped on Sunday from the Ain Issa camp in northwestern Syria. Kurdish officials have said almost 800 people fled that camp after the Turkish offensive into northern Syria targeted the area.
Le Drian said women who had joined ISIS should also face justice in the region, although Paris would look to bring back children.
“The French women who went to this region in 2015 knew what they were doing. They aren’t tourists. They are fighters against France and must face trial (in Iraq) if possible,” he said.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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