British children associated with ISIS in camps in North-East Syria : Counter-terrorism, security and children’s rights concerns in repatriation decision-making

Abbas, Madeline-Sophie (2024) British children associated with ISIS in camps in North-East Syria : Counter-terrorism, security and children’s rights concerns in repatriation decision-making. Ethnic and Racial Studies. ISSN 0141-9870 (In Press)

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Abstract

Drawing empirical insights from NGOs working on statelessness, repatriation, and children’s rights relating to children residing in al-Hol and Roj camps in North-East Syria, I explore critiques of UK government decision-making concerning repatriation amid unprecedented use of citizenship deprivation powers affecting ISIS-associated children which has enforced parent-child separation. A policy gap is created where children are unable to be returned with caregivers if citizenship is deprived. Adoption of a case-by-case approach rather than coherent policy response to repatriation prolongs children’s detainment within insecure camps. Using a critical race lens, I advance theoretical understanding of spatio-temporal logics of (in)securitisation within the context of counter-terrorism policies affecting British children in NES camps through convergence of violent conflict, citizenship deprivation, and state failure to repatriate. A children’s right approach to repatriation decision-making is required to ensure British children’s safe return and right to family.