MONTREAL –
A psychiatrist concerned in efforts to assist kids of Canadian ladies detained in Syria after travelling to be part of the Islamic State is urging Ottawa to pace up repatriation efforts.
Dr. Cecile Rousseau, a pediatric psychiatrist at McGill University and an expert on violent radicalization and extremism, was a part of a committee of native well being officers and baby welfare specialists introduced collectively by the RCMP’s Quebec detachment after the caliphate fell in 2017.
She mentioned she doesn’t imagine {that a} handful of girls returning with younger kids, who will be monitored and given assist, will characterize a hazard to Canadian society.
“I feel we should transfer ahead as a result of the extra we wait, the extra it’ll be tough for Canada and for the individuals coming again to reintegrate into society,” Rousseau mentioned.
“So ready will not be a good suggestion, particularly with younger kids. They are Canadian residents, let’s have them again dwelling — that is the perfect consequence for them and for us.”
On Wednesday, Oumaima Chouay, 27, returned to Canada together with her two kids and one other Canadian grownup, Kimberly Polman of B.C.
Chouay faces fees of leaving Canada to take part in the exercise of a terrorist group, participation in the exercise of a terrorist group, offering property or companies for terrorism functions and conspiracy to take part in the exercise of a terrorist group. Her case returns to court docket Nov. 8.
Polman was granted bail on Thursday by a B.C. court docket pending a peace bond listening to.
Rousseau mentioned in an interview Thursday that she couldn’t talk about Chouay’s kids, however she mentioned the reintegration efforts thought-about earlier than their arrival from northeastern Syria, notably from the kid’s perspective.
Quebec authorities have been awaiting the return of residents who travelled to the Middle East to be part of the Islamic State, with a selected concern for younger kids born abroad and arriving in Canada for the primary time.
They spent greater than a yr discussing the plight of these kids and their moms held in detention camps and arising with a plan for them.
Rousseau mentioned officers appeared on the expertise of England and France, the place moms have been separated from their kids robotically after being repatriated. They additionally examined different fashions that concerned a group strategy, favouring no separation between mom and kids and a fast integration into faculty and group.
“The concept was to favour, as a lot as potential, the preservation of an attachment relation,” she mentioned. “With a guardian if potential, actually with a relative and the prolonged household so long as the kids have been protected. And not to take the predicament of different European international locations who had type of thought-about that prolonged household should be thought-about suspect till confirmed in any other case.”
Authorities hope to keep away from a revolving door of placement, particularly “for kids who’ve undergone cumulative trauma, a number of attachment disruption and dwelling in hardship or survival conditions for the final not less than three years if not throughout their complete lives,” Rousseau mentioned.
During a information convention on Wednesday, the Quebec RCMP mentioned the power has lengthy held considerations concerning the kids. Insp. David Beaudoin mentioned in depth measures had been taken to guarantee they obtain correct assist, together with the involvement of prolonged household.
Rousseau mentioned authorities thought-about the whole lot from their arrival on the airport and offering kids ready for hours whereas their mother and father bear interrogation with meals, toys and a spot to relaxation. They additionally mentioned what to do if there is no prolonged household in Canada, discovering protected foster environments whereas selling cultural and spiritual continuity and security.
Rousseau mentioned the primary order of enterprise was to decide whether or not the returning moms have been out there for the kids, each psychologically and emotionally. A depressed and traumatized mom could be in a position to take care of the kids, however not essentially present emotional care, she mentioned.
“Because we all know that that is what makes kids really feel protected and that is completely important,” Rousseau mentioned.
Rousseau mentioned a lot of the kids coming to Canada are toddlers or school-aged kids who’ve skilled trauma, conflict or grief of shedding a cherished one, notably their fathers. Many of them will endure from acute post-traumatic stress dysfunction but in addition complicated post-traumatic stress, the place sufferers cope with deprivation concurrently traumatic signs, she added.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was requested concerning the repatriation efforts final week and burdened it was vital that individuals who travelled for the aim of supporting terrorism face penalties.
“Fundamentally, travelling for the aim of supporting terrorism is a criminal offense in Canada. And anybody who travelled for the aim of supporting terrorism should face prison fees,” he mentioned.
Asked if different repatriation efforts are underway, Trudeau mentioned Canadian authorities proceed to “have interaction responsibly” in the area.