It is hard to summon much sympathy for the thousands of ISIS fighters and their dependants who now find themselves languishing in Kurdish-run detention camps following the final collapse of their so-called caliphate.
With the exception of the children who never asked to be born into such depravity, these are the people who are responsible for creating and sustaining a movement that visited untold misery upon those unfortunate enough to find themselves subject to the group’s reign of terror across large tracts of northern Iraq and Syria.
Moreover, many of the fighters now in the custody of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – the western backed group that was at the vanguard of the final push to destroy the last remnants of the caliphate in the Syrian border village of Baghouz – are unapologetic about their support for ISIS.
Whether, fearing death, they opted to surrender, or were taken captive as the SDF and its western backers intensified the military effort to flush out the last pockets of resistance, the majority of those now in captivity have made it abundantly clear that, given the chance, they remain committed to ISIS’s murderous doctrine.
The temptation then, especially in the West, is to abandon them to their fate, particularly the estimated 1,000 foreign fighters now in captivity, who left their homes to join the caliphate.
Britain, for example, is among several European states that believes the best way to deal with surviving ISIS members is to strip them of their citizenship, thereby denying them the right to return home. This approach has been highlighted by the high-profile case of Shamima Begum and the attempts of the British Home Secretary Sajid Javid to strip her of citizenship.
The argument advanced by British and other European security chiefs for subjecting ISIS veterans to such measures is that, if they were allowed to return, they might help to further the cause of Islamist extremism.
This concern is not entirely without merit. For example, many of the detainees held at the US Guantanamo Bay detention facility, whose release was only secured following an outcry from western politicians, ended up being involved in committing further acts of terrorism.
Indeed, documents recently collected after the fall of Baghouz reveal that, for all its recent setbacks, ISIS remains committed to waging war by any means possible, which includes carrying out a wave of terrorist attacks in Europe.
The obvious conclusion to draw, then, is that, while ISIS may have lost its caliphate, it has lost none of its appetite for committing further atrocities around the globe
The so-called ISIS files, a collection of documents obtained from ISIS fighters, which have been published in The Sunday Times, reveal that the organisation aims to set up a "department of operations in Europe" that would provide support to ISIS members already living there, enabling them to operate so-called "crocodile cell" assassination squads, whose mission would be to "kill the enemies of God".
The obvious conclusion to draw, then, is that, while ISIS may have lost its caliphate, it has lost none of its appetite for committing further atrocities around the globe, a consideration world leaders would be well-advised to take on board as they reflect on their next moves.
Simply abrogating responsibility for the problem, and leaving the Kurdish-led administration in the north-east of Syria to resolve the fate of the ISIS captives, is not the solution.
For a start, by their own admission, the Kurds simply cannot cope with the sheer volume of ISIS fighters and their associates that they now have in detention. Moreover, given the SDF fought to help western powers, such as the US and Britain achieve their ultimate goal of destroying the caliphate, the West has a moral obligation to provide them with all the assistance they need.
Ideally, this would involve setting up an international tribunal, similar to those that dealt with war crimes committed during the Balkans conflicts and the 1994 Rwandan genocide, to deal with those involved in the orgy of violence that was committed by ISIS fighters.
This is certainly the preferred option of Abdulkerim Umer, a senior official with the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria, who has called for the establishment of “a special international tribunal in north-east Syria to prosecute terrorists” that will ensure the trials are “conducted fairly and in accordance with international law and human rights covenants and charters”.
Setting up such a body, though, is more easily said than done. For a start, the Kurdish-controlled enclave in Syria remains disputed territory, and its status will remain unresolved unless the West can be persuaded to back peace negotiations over the post-conflict resolution of Syria, which for the moment seems unlikely.
The legal basis for setting up a tribunal in the Kurdish enclave would also face challenges, as neither Syria nor Iraq are signatories to the 2002 Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court.
Faced with these challenges, the most obvious solution therefore would be for all those countries who have been involved in the long-running campaign to defeat ISIS to accept they have a moral obligation to deal with the aftermath of the caliphate.
For countries such as Britain, this means allowing its citizens who joined ISIS to return home and face the consequences of their actions. This is certainly the intention of James Jeffrey, the US envoy for Syria, who earlier this week said that “getting countries to take back their own foreign terrorist fighters” remained his main priority.
Otherwise the military campaign to destroy the caliphate could prove to be a Pyrrhic victory, one where the caliphate is defeated, but its supporters are not held to account for their actions.
Con Coughlin is the Daily Telegraph’s defence and foreign affairs editor
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
The Specs
Engine 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 582bhp (542bhp in GTS model)
Torque: 730Nm
Price: Dh649,000 (Dh549,000 for GTS)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Credits
Produced by: Colour Yellow Productions and Eros Now
Director: Mudassar Aziz
Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jassi Gill, Piyush Mishra, Diana Penty, Aparshakti Khurrana
Star rating: 2.5/5
SERIE A FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Roma v Udinese (5pm)
SPAL v Napoli (8pm)
Juventus v Torino (10.45pm)
Sunday
Sampdoria v AC Milan (2.30pm)
Inter Milan v Genoa (5pm)
Crotone v Benevento (5pm)
Verona v Lazio (5pm)
Cagliari v Chievo (5pm)
Sassuolo v Bologna (8pm)
Fiorentina v Atalanta (10.45pm)
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on animal trafficking
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The%20Afghan%20connection
%3Cp%3EThe%20influx%20of%20talented%20young%20Afghan%20players%20to%20UAE%20cricket%20could%20have%20a%20big%20impact%20on%20the%20fortunes%20of%20both%20countries.%20Here%20are%20three%20Emirates-based%20players%20to%20watch%20out%20for.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EHassan%20Khan%20Eisakhil%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMohammed%20Nabi%20is%20still%20proving%20his%20worth%20at%20the%20top%20level%20but%20there%20is%20another%20reason%20he%20is%20raging%20against%20the%20idea%20of%20retirement.%20If%20the%20allrounder%20hangs%20on%20a%20little%20bit%20longer%2C%20he%20might%20be%20able%20to%20play%20in%20the%20same%20team%20as%20his%20son%2C%20Hassan%20Khan.%20The%20family%20live%20in%20Ajman%20and%20train%20in%20Sharjah.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMasood%20Gurbaz%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20opening%20batter%2C%20who%20trains%20at%20Sharjah%20Cricket%20Academy%2C%20is%20another%20player%20who%20is%20a%20part%20of%20a%20famous%20family.%20His%20brother%2C%20Rahmanullah%2C%20was%20an%20IPL%20winner%20with%20Kolkata%20Knight%20Riders%2C%20and%20opens%20the%20batting%20with%20distinction%20for%20Afghanistan.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOmid%20Rahman%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20fast%20bowler%20became%20a%20pioneer%20earlier%20this%20year%20when%20he%20became%20the%20first%20Afghan%20to%20represent%20the%20UAE.%20He%20showed%20great%20promise%20in%20doing%20so%2C%20too%2C%20playing%20a%20key%20role%20in%20the%20senior%20team%E2%80%99s%20qualification%20for%20the%20Asia%20Cup%20in%20Muscat%20recently.%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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%3Cp%3EMATA%0D%3Cbr%3EArtist%3A%20M.I.A%0D%3Cbr%3ELabel%3A%20Island%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20SCE%20Studio%20Cambridge%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sony%20Computer%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%2C%20PlayStation%204%20and%205%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
