Finland repatriates minor from Iraq after court-ordered release

Finnish authorities have repatriated a minor boy from Iraq, following a court-ordered release and coordination with diplomatic officials, according to reports by Yle citing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The child arrived in Finland on April 3 after an Iraqi court ruled on March 31 that he should be released and transferred into the custody of the Finnish Embassy in Baghdad to facilitate his return.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the boy had been taken to Syria in the mid-2010s and had remained in the Al-Hol camp from February 2019. In February 2026, he was among approximately 5,700 detainees transferred from northeastern Syria to Baghdad, where Finnish diplomatic staff were able to confirm his identity.

Officials stated that the boy holds only Finnish citizenship, enabling his repatriation under Finland’s consular protection framework.

By Tamilla Hasanova