France is trying to save French terrorists from the death penalty. They were sentenced to death by an Iraqi court. However, France refuses to repatriate the terrorists in order to give them a milder punishment.
Lyudmila Klyzhenko has the details.
Terrorists should stand trial where they committed their crimes, but capital punishment is unacceptable. This is the response of France to Iraq, where six militants, who came from France, were sentenced to death over the past week.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Foreign Affairs: "There are two principles that do not contradict each other. First, these terrorists attacked us. They spread death in Iraq. They must stand trial where they committed the crimes. Some other European countries share this point of view. So it's up to Iraqi courts to decide their fate. Secondly, we are firmly against the death penalty. We've stated it and already taken the necessary steps. I've conveyed this to the President of Iraq. I reminded him of our position: We are against the death penalty everywhere, including Iraq".
France has long been facing the dilemma of what to do with its citizens who joined terrorists in the Middle East to end up in captivity or camps. France refuses to repatriate them, despite the obvious risk of capital punishment. Although, according to international law, a person with a European passport can also stand trial at home. However, France believes that this will hamper any attempt to collect criminal evidence, which is easier to provide near the crime scene. Consequently, they'll be able to avoid punishment. And, when released, jihadists can continue their activities in their homeland.
However, only Iraq has agreed to put the terrorists on trial so far. Human rights activists claim that trials there normally take 10 minutes and produce the same sentence. More than 500 people have already been sentenced to death. However, none of them have been executed yet. Therefore, France promised to enhance diplomatic efforts and prevent the execution of its citizens. Besides, a total of about 400 French citizens, including children, are currently in prisons and camps in Iraq. But the position regarding their return to their homeland remains the same: only orphans or those kids who receive permission from their mother will be eligible.
Lyudmila Klyzhenko for Vesti.
