The German Foreign Ministry has disclosed that 472 individuals who previously traveled to Syria and Iraq to join the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) are currently residing in Germany. This information was provided in response to an inquiry from Cansu Özdemir, a parliamentarian from the Left party and reported by “Welt am Sonntag.
The ministry notes that some returnees have reportedly made repeated trips back to Syria, leading to multiple entries in the data. Government investigations suggest a total of approximately 1,150 German nationals traveled to Syria and Iraq since 2011, with a high probability that they were involved with, or continue to be connected to, ISIS.
Özdemir emphasized the continued presence of “hundreds of jihadists” in Syria and Iraq, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring of the situation. She expressed concern regarding Germany’s pursuit of normalization with governments, including that of Syria.
Official assessments indicate that roughly 65 percent of those who departed for Syria and Iraq participated in combat activities. Following ISIS’ decline, many, along with their families, found themselves in Kurdish custody. Disputes arose regarding the repatriation of these individuals from detention facilities.
Since 2019, the German government has facilitated the consular repatriation of 28 German women and their children from northeastern Syria. This cohort includes 74 minors and one adolescent. Furthermore, eleven unaccompanied minors, including half- and full-orphans of deceased ISIS supporters, have been integrated. The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) coordinated the return of twelve women and 25 children, encompassing individuals deported from Turkey and Iraq, as well as those who voluntarily returned.
Law enforcement agencies and the domestic intelligence service are actively monitoring returnees, with a focus on offering opportunities for participation in deradicalization programs.
