Tajikistan takes back 84 children as parents still jailed in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Some 84 children arrived in the capital of Tajikistan from Iraq late on Tuesday, while nearly 150 Islamic State (ISIS) suspects and their children remain held in Baghdad.

A statement from Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs detailed that "special flights" were used in the process and Tajikistan "expresses its gratitude to all the institutions for the continued cooperation and support for their return to their homeland."

Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon added that the republic "will soon return all children and minors" suspected of joining ISIS in coordination with the Iraqi government. 

However, 53 "prisoners" and 95 children remain in the Iraq capital in prisons and detention centers.

Repatriating the jailed women would be far more difficult, Tajik foreign minister Sirodjidin Mukhriddin admitted at the time.

Tajikistan, although not a part of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, has prioritized the return of its citizens. The FM said in February that the country would have to pay $400 to repatriate each child from Iraq. 

The most infamous ISIS recruit from Tajikistan was Gulmurod Halimov, who headed the interior ministry's special forces unit before sensationally announcing his defection to ISIS in a video attributed to the group in 2015.

Iraq has volunteered to prosecute foreign nationals in exchange for billions of dollars to pay for its reconstruction. 

There is no established global policy for dealing with those suspected of being affiliated with ISIS.

Human rights activist lawyer Amal Clooney argued on April 23 before the UN Security Council that several options are available to get justice for victims of sexual violence committed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria.