In its Resolution 2190 (2017), the Parliamentary Assembly called on Council of Europe member and observer States to “formally recognise that Daesh has committed genocide,” and to “take prompt and effective action” including by: “prosecuting all offences committed within their jurisdiction relating to Daesh’s activities abroad”.
The Dutch government has now recognised the Daesh atrocities as genocide. A similar determination has been made by the European Parliament and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, the governments of the United States and Canada, the parliaments of the United Kingdom (House of Commons), the United States, Canada, France, Austria, Australia, Hungary, Lithuania, and Italy. Despite the growing consensus, many States have not made any formal determination yet.
As Daesh has lost over 98% of its previously held territories in Syria and Iraq, the so-called
Daesh foreign fighters, namely individuals that are citizens to States other than Syria and Iraq where Daesh committed the majority of the mass atrocities, are now returning to their home countries. This constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security, and especially to the home countries of those Daesh foreign fighters. Over 5 000 Europeans have joined Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Soufan Group assessed that half of the Daesh foreign fighters are returning back to their home countries. If this prediction materialises, this means that Europe must be prepared for the arrival of over 2 500 Daesh foreign fighter returnees, individuals who have been radicalised by Daesh, recruited to join Daesh in Syria and Iraq, trained in combat, involved and complicit in mass atrocities in Syria and Iraq.
The Daesh foreign fighter returnees must be adequately investigated and prosecuted for their involvement in genocide.
Mr Omtzigt
To ask the Committee of Ministers,
Do you intend to take measures to encourage States to recognise the atrocities perpetrated by Daesh as genocide and prosecute all individuals involved or complicit in the crime?