Amid growing concerns of T&T nationals being part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) and operating in this country, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said there have been “significant efforts” with international partners in addressing the issue of statelessness as the Government continues to explore legislation to stop nationals from returning to the country after serving in Isis.
The T&T Guardian reported yesterday that the Government was “red-flagging” as potential threats to national security the families of men and women who went to Syria to fight for Isis which was in addition to T&T fighters in Isis.
Saying that combined efforts of local and international partners were therefore critical, Al-Rawi, in an interview yesterday, added, “When you stop someone it’s one thing but how you treat with them when you have stopped them is also equally important because there is a live issue in law of causing statelessness and there is also a live issue of making sure that people who are caught in these circumstances are treated within the confines of the law and the Constitution.”
He said people had multiple rights, one of which was a package of rights as a result of citizenship.
The international community, he added, could compel a country to treat with its citizens who were rendered stateless as the country in which they were staying could then ask the ‘mother country’ to deport them back.
“You can’t just leave them in the air or in a plane or on a ship. You have to factor these realities in. So the efforts have to be that you treat with the terrorists not only by prosecuting them in your law and in your courts but by also taking avail of the co-operative efforts that your international partners will allow by prosecutions in other courts whether by way or extradition or application of external anti-terrorism laws which may affect citizens of T&T,” Al-Rawi added.
Again assuring that the Government was conducting a strict monitoring exercise, the AG also expressed concern over the apparent fact that local women and children were being inculcated into Isis.
Al-Rawi said sensitive operational details could not be divulged, including the financing of T&T Isis fighters as this would lead to a “tragic end” not only for investigations but also prosecutions and conviction.