Maldives Police Service (MPS) has begun carrying a preliminary analysis before bringing back stranded Maldivians who travelled to fight the war in Syria.
Dismissing rumors that an MPS team traveled to Syria to retract the Maldivians, Spokesperson of MPS Izmia Zahir said no police team is active in Syria to bring them back. She said however, the institution is carrying a preliminary study in collaboration with relevant authorities. While the stranded in Syria includes women and children, many of them were forced to travel to Syria.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assured last July that the administration is working to move the Maldivians in refugee camps to the reach of the government or United Nations (UN).
Speaking at the first ever councilors' symposium, Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed shared details of Maldivians participating in the fight in Syria. Commissioner Hameed said while 170 Maldivians have fled to Syria, 26% of the people include women, and 21% of them are children below 18 years old. While 91% of the women who fled to Syria are estimated to be alive currently, only 9% of men are expected to be alive now.
With the ratification of the amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act, the government of the Maldives have now publicised a list of terror organisations and regions. The entire Syria has been identified as war-torn, and travelling to any part of Syria is now illegal. The new amendments also mandate the administration to set up a rehabilitation centre for those who have fought in wars abroad before they are allowed in the society.
Ministry of Home Affairs recently revealed the development work of the rehabilitation centre it is carrying in Himmafushi island will soon complete.