“There’s no obligation to help adults who have entered the region voluntarily,” said Marin. “The child’s best interests take precedence, and it’s the duty of the authorized official to consider and evaluate how the child’s best interests can be protected in the best possible way,” she added.
Finland is one of a number of European Union (EU) member states facing a decision over whether to bring home citizens who left their countries to join ISIS in Syria and are now trapped at the al-Hol camp, a Kurdish-controlled detention camp where the family’s of ISIS extremists, typically those who have been killed, wounded, or missing, are being held.
More than 30 children born to 11 Finnish women are at the al-Hol camp.
Marin added that Finland is not obligated to help those who left to join the terrorist group voluntarily.
“There is no obligation to assist adults who went to the region of their own accord,” said Marin.
“The aim of the authorities’ actions is to protect the interests of the child in all circumstances,” Marin said, leaving the door open for the repatriation of some of the mothers with their children.
Her post met with heavy criticism, especially from Human Rights Watch. Kulmuni has since deleted the poll and apologized for posting it.
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