Interior Minister Maria Ohisalo (Green) said she understands that the repatriation of mothers and their children from the al-Hol displacement camp in Syria may raise concerns for people, but she emphasised that security will be ensured through strong cooperation between Finland’s authorities.
"The authorities have carefully considered the decision to repatriate these people and the authorities are in constant co-operation here. A preliminary probe will be carried out by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and then if it is thought that a preliminary investigation must be started, that is then a matter for the Public Prosecutor's Office," Ohisalo stated.
The minister added that in her opinion Finland is still the safest country in the world and that position will be maintained.
On Sunday, two women and six children returned to Finland from Syria and were placed in the care of Finnish authorities. This marked the first time the Finnish government has repatriated mothers from al-Hol.
Previously, the Foreign Ministry brought two orphaned children back to Finland from the camp.
The displacement camp at al-Hol houses women and children who lived in the short-lived ISIS caliphate in northern Syria until its collapse.
Ohisalo did not however respond directly to questions over whether the remainder of the Finnish women at al-Hol are going to be helped out of the camp.
"The government's policy is clear. It was agreed a year ago and it has been decided that children need to be helped. Yesterday, Foreign Ministry special representative Jussi Tanner spoke about the legal basis and starting points for the authorities' decision, which has now been made. On the basis of overall assessments, he has come to the conclusion that this is the way to do it now," the minister said.
Ohisalo also noted that chair of the opposition National Coalition Party Petteri Orpo has said that the chosen course of action was the correct one.
"This is strongly in the hands of authorities"
Ohisalo would also not be drawn on whether the government knew in advance of the past weekend’s operation, but instead she referred to special representative Tanner's statements at Sunday's press conference, in which he justified the authorities' actions.
"Political deliberation was made over a year ago and now this is now strongly in the hands of the authorities. Special Representative Tanner, on the whole, was quite comprehensive [in his statements]," Ohisalo said, adding that it is not a politician’s place to take a stance on what should be done for mothers or children who have returned to Finland.
"This is a matter for the authorities. I trust the Finnish authorities both on the social and healthcare side as well as on the security side. The authorities will go through each situation on a case-by-case basis and then make decisions about each one," she said.
The minister added that the children's adaptation into Finnish society is "absolutely essential" and that they have the right to education, well-being, healthcare and an environment necessary for a peaceful upbringing.