DUSHANBE, 01.05.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – A special flight carrying 84 children arrived in Dushanbe from Baghdad on Tuesday. The children were accompanied by the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Zubaidullo Zubaidullozoda.

The parents of the children are serving criminal sentences for fighting on the side of the Islamic State.

They were greeted at the airport by officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Committee for National Security, the Committee for Women Affairs and Family, as well as UNICEF.

The children who are mostly female, are between just over one to 15 years old. Many are able to speak only Arabic.

“According to the instructions of the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the issue related to repatriating all Tajik children and minors who were with their parents who had joined ISIL in Iraq is under the scrutiny of the government of Tajikistan,” said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Muzaffar Huseinzoda.

“Following the negotiations, it was revealed that 43 women and 95 children are in Iraqi camps, detention centers and prisons. I express gratitude to the government of Iraq for their assistance in returning children to Tajikistan,” said Husienzoda.

Tohir SAIDZODA’s Photo/NIAT Khovar