Europe Reluctant to Take Back ISIS Fighters: NPR

The Islamic State recruited young men and women from around the world with propaganda, promising a caliphate, devout surroundings, marriage and adventure. Syria, the United States, Russia and the Kurds, Turkey and Iran worked separately to defeat the brutal terrorist group. Now, disillusioned and defiant ISIS members hope to return to their homes, reports NPR. Some express less remorse than others. European leaders, despite urgings from Donald Trump, hesitate to accept return of citizens for prosecution as few can forget or forgive ISIS atrocities, including beheadings for minor infractions, burning people alive in cages and constant threats to attack democracies. The New York Times describes a college student who left Alabama to join ISIS, married three times and sent toxic messages online to incite random attacks in the US. Some governments will punish their citizens. The US secretary of state says she lacks US citizenship, contradicting her family who claim she was born in New Jersey. The United Kingdom revoked the passport as “conducive to the public good” of a mother concerned about the health of her surviving child, but nonchalant about witnessing executions, and suggests she returns to her mother’s home country of Bangladesh. Nations accepting citizens who joined ISIS must plan adequate punishment as well as monitoring and de-radicalization programs to ensure public safety. – YaleGlobal