ISIS Families Barred From Damascus En Route to Australia
A group of Australian families with alleged ties to the Islamic State (ISIS) have been turned back from Syria’s capital, Damascus, after attempting to travel from a refugee camp with the aim of returning home. The convoy, comprising 24 women and children from 11 families, was reportedly issued Australian travel documents before departing the Al Roj refugee camp in northeastern Syria.
The group’s journey, which began on a Monday morning, was escorted by Kurdish security forces. Their stated intention was to reach Damascus to facilitate their eventual return to Australia. However, Syrian authorities ultimately denied them passage to the capital, ordering their immediate return to the Al Roj camp.
Sources have indicated to the ABC that the group consists of 34 individuals who had already been provided with Australian passports. The precise circumstances surrounding the acquisition of these passports remain unclear, with speculation ranging from prior issuance to the intention of collecting them in Damascus. The plan was to use the capital as a staging point for their planned repatriation to Australia.
Government Policy on Returning ISIS-Linked Families
The Albanese government has maintained a clear stance that it will not provide direct assistance for the travel of these families back to Australia. This policy was reiterated by Environment Minister Murray Watt during a Senate estimates hearing on February 10th. He confirmed that while the women and their children linked to ISIS are permitted to return to Australia, they are expected to do so through their own arrangements. The government will not be undertaking repatriation efforts or offering logistical support.
This approach has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition. Jonathon Duniam, the Opposition Home Affairs spokesperson, has labelled the policy as a “gross neglect of national security.” He argued that following past terrorist incidents in Australia, the government should not be outsourcing the responsibility for the return of individuals connected to terrorists to third parties.
Duniam further asserted that this situation represents a failure of the Albanese government, suggesting that its “secrecy over this dangerous cohort” is leaving Australians uninformed about potential security risks. He posed a rhetorical question, asking if the nation would have to endure another national security breach before the government takes decisive action regarding ISIS brides, and stressed the imperative for the government to regain control of the situation to prevent further risks.
Past Repatriations and Security Checks
This incident follows a previous repatriation in September, where two women and four children with alleged links to ISIS fighters successfully returned to Australia. This group had managed to exit Syria via Lebanon, having previously fled the Al-Hol detention centre, also located in northeastern Syria.
Upon their arrival, these individuals were issued Australian passports after undergoing thorough security and DNA checks. The Department of Home Affairs had reportedly been briefed on their intended return approximately three months prior to their arrival.
The government has previously issued warnings that Australians returning from Syria who are found to have committed crimes overseas will face prosecution upon their return. The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment regarding the recent events at the Syrian border.
The situation highlights the ongoing complexities and security concerns surrounding individuals with alleged ISIS affiliations attempting to return to Australia. While the government permits their return, the responsibility for facilitating that journey rests entirely with the individuals themselves, a policy that continues to be a subject of intense debate.
