(Ottawa) Two women and three children who were once lost in Syria when they failed to show up for a repatriation flight to Canada in April are now returning home.
The women and children are part of a group of 19 people whom Canada accepted in January to repatriate from Kurdish-run prison camps in northeast Syria.
These 19 people had been detained for years in “displaced persons camps” in an area now controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The other 14 people had arrived in April as planned, but these two women and three children did not show up for the repatriation flight. For several days afterwards, neither their lawyers nor the Canadian government knew what was going on.
One of their lawyers later argued that the women and children had been detained by Kurdish guards and were not allowed to board the plane which was to repatriate them.
Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon of Ottawa had earlier this year reached a deal with the Canadian government to bring home the 19 women and children from Syria. He said Thursday that the families of the repatriated Canadians were of course “delighted with the return of their loved ones.”
Arrested upon arrival?
Me Greenspon admitted that these women could be arrested as soon as they arrive in Canada. Three of the four women who returned in April were immediately arrested and the federal government demanded a peace bond from them.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if (Ottawa) did the same with either of these two women,” admitted Ms.e Greenspon.
The federal government is currently in talks with attorneys for the three women arrested in April about what conditions should be included in the peace bond.
Last May, the Federal Court of Appeal overturned a January trial ruling that found four Canadian nationals held in Syrian camps were entitled to Ottawa’s help to return home. Me Greenspon warns that the case will go to the Supreme Court of Canada.
A small group of civil society members, including Senator Kim Pate, are expected to travel to the area in late August to visit the four men in hopes of helping with their repatriation.
Me Greenspon believes that the two women and three children returning this week give this delegation new arguments to demonstrate that Canada can indeed repatriate its citizens from northeast Syria.
The delegation will also include Alex Neve, former Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, and Scott Heatherington, a retired Canadian diplomat.
Uncertain fate for a Quebecer
Another Canadian mother of six who is trying to leave Syria, and who suffered a setback when her tent was damaged by fire, is not part of the group now repatriated.
Me Greenspon maintains that Ottawa will not help the Quebecer return because Canadian authorities believe she poses a national security risk, and that position has not changed since the fire was reported in late June.
The lawyer expects to challenge in court the decision of the federal government to grant repatriation to the six children, but not to their mother.
After speaking with her a few days ago, Me Greenspon maintains that this woman is physically and psychologically distraught. “She is very, very badly. »