Rabat is intending to rely on «intermediaries» to negotiate the repatriation of around 200 Moroccan housewives and their children, held in Syria. As local media sources announced that the Kingdom is currently negotiating the repatriation of Moroccan women stuck in Syria after joining their husbands in ISIS, the Northern Observatory for Human Rights (ONERDH) told Yabiladi that some of these women who used to contact the NGO were arrested. On Thursday, Arabic-language daily newspaper Akhbar Alyaoum said that Morocco is working on negotiating the repatriation of dozens of women and their children who are currently in refugees' camps in Syria. The Moroccan authorities, reportedly are relying on intermediaries to reach a common ground with the «Syrian Democratic Forces» and send these women back to their country. The same source reports, citing the Moroccan League for Citizenship and Human Rights, that the multi-ethnic and multi-religious alliance supported by Washington has allegedly arrested 19 Moroccan women, without mentioning the reasons behind this decision. Moroccan women and their children arrested in Syria Contacted by Yabiladi on Thursday, Mohamed Ben Aissa, head of the Northern Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the version of the story brought by Akhbar Alyaoum. «The issue was tackled by the government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi, who reacted to our press release about Morocco's refusal to repatriate these women», he explained. «The information was reported by Moroccan women in Syria and the Syrian Democratic Forces», he added. «Currently, Syrian forces have arrested a group of Moroccan women and their children. They were transferred to prisons, without knowing what they are accused of. These are the same women with whom we made contact through their relatives here in Morocco. We know nothing about them now». Mohamed Ben Aissa «Other women, including Moroccan nationals, have been banned from speaking to international media and human rights associations about the situation in the camps», he stated, denouncing the arrest. On July the 12th, and during a press conference held by the government, Mustapha El Khalfi dismissed «rumors» suggesting that Morocco denied the repatriation of 200 Moroccan women and their children in Syria. «It's their country and we cannot refuse their repatriation», he said, adding that Morocco «defends its citizens inside the outside the country». «It is part of our duty», added the government spokesperson. The minister also promised to contact the Ministry of Moroccans living abroad to tackle the issue.
