Amnesty International welcomes Canada’s decision to repatriate a Canadian orphan girl who has been stranded in Northeast Syria since March 2019.
“We are thrilled that Canada has finally repatriated this child and reunited her with her family in Canada,” said Ketty Nivyabandi, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. “Now, it is incumbent upon Canada to take all necessary measures to repatriate the remaining Canadian children from Northeast Syria in a manner that fully respects the best interests of the child and the principle of family unity,” she added.
With the child having been repatriated, there are 46 documented cases of Canadian citizens who remain in arbitrary detention in Northeast Syria, 25 of whom are children.
Justin Mohammed, Human Rights Law and Policy Campaigner, added the following: “Canadian citizens in Northeast Syria have been suffering daily human rights abuses for over 18 months, be it in displaced persons camps or in Syrian jails. Canada’s repatriation of Amira demonstrates that while providing consular assistance in Syria is undoubtedly challenging, it can be done. We call upon the Canadian authorities to act urgently to put an end to the arbitrary detention of these citizens.”
