laws of armed conflict and terrorism and detainees

Furthermore, accepting the rulings of the AANES justice system could pose reputational risks for the international community and, in the long run, create a potential security threat in the form of an IS resurgence. The AANES’ legal system, lacking the necessary independence, experience, and integrity to tackle such a complex task, presents significant challenges when it comes to achieving justice for both IS victims and fighters.

However, the lack of international recognition for the AANES and its courts renders these trials illegitimate, further complicating future international legal efforts to prosecute these combatants. On June 11, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), the de facto authority in northeast Syria, announced its intention to prosecute approximately 2,000 IS foreign fighters - i.e., those who are not Syrian or Iraqi - in an effort to deliver justice to the victims of the terrorist organization.

As the clock ticks down on the repatriation of Islamic State (IS) foreign fighters from Syria, a recent development has added a new sense of urgency to the situation.

Laws of armed conflict and terrorism and detainees