Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed this Friday that the French government will repatriate French jihadists detained in Iraq. During an exchange with readers of La Voix du Nord, he clarified that French citizens sentenced abroad, such as in Iraq or Iran, must serve their sentences in France. He stressed that it would be inconsistent to require other countries to take back their nationals under OQTF without applying the same rule to French citizens detained outside France.
Prison conditions criticized in Iraq
The announcement concerns three Northerners sentenced to death and then life imprisonment in Iraq. Several lawyers for French jihadists welcomed this statement, denouncing the "undignified conditions" of detention in Baghdad. Marie Dosé, lawyer for Djamila Boutoutaou, called for the urgent repatriation of her seriously ill client. Richard Sédillot, who represents other detainees, insisted on the need for their return to ensure better rehabilitation and allow French magistrates to continue ongoing investigations.
This decision marks a significant turning point on a politically sensitive issue. Until now, the repatriation of French citizens convicted of terrorism abroad has been carried out piecemeal, under high political pressure. The government now appears to be favoring a more coherent approach, justified both by humanitarian imperatives and the proper administration of justice.
The precise details of these transfers are not yet known, but several associations of victims of terrorism are rightly concerned about the conditions of detention in France and the supervision of these individuals after their return.
