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Australia Stands Firm: No Repatriation for ISIS-Linked Women and Children in Syria
CANBERRA, Australia – The Australian government has reiterated its firm stance against the repatriation of a group of Australian women and children currently detained in Syrian refugee camps, despite their efforts to return home. These individuals are reportedly linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) and are now seeking to leave the Al-Roj detention camp.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the situation on Australian broadcaster ABC, stating unequivocally that his government will not facilitate their return. “If you make your bed, you lie in it,” Albanese remarked, emphasizing the government’s lack of sympathy for those who traveled to Syria to support the caliphate.
The group, comprising 34 women and children, is housed in the Al-Roj camp, which holds ISIS militants and their families. Their recent attempt to return to Australia via Damascus was reportedly thwarted when Syrian authorities turned them back.
When questioned about whether these individuals held Australian passports, Prime Minister Albanese declined to confirm details, but made it clear: “We’re providing absolutely no support and we are not repatriating people.” He further elaborated, “We have no sympathy, frankly, for people who travelled overseas in order to participate in what was an attempt to establish a caliphate to undermine, destroy our way of life.”
According to ABC reports, many of the women were married to ISIS fighters who have since been captured or killed. Some claim they were forced to travel to Syria, and a significant number of the children were born in the camps.
Rashid Omar, an official at the Al-Roj camp, told CNN that two male relatives of the families had coordinated with Syrian authorities to transport them, even presenting what they claimed were temporary Australian passports. However, Damascus reportedly denied any such coordination, leading to the group’s return to the camp. Omar expressed bewilderment, stating camp officials “don’t understand why they were sent back despite already holding temporary Australian passports.”
Thousands of citizens from various Western nations, including Australia, the United States, and Britain, have been stranded in these detention camps since the fall of Syria five years ago. Humanitarian organizations like Amnesty International have raised serious concerns about human rights abuses within the camps, citing instances of torture, gender-based violence, and forced disappearances. Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard stated that “The autonomous authorities have committed the war crimes of torture and cruel treatment, and likely committed the war crime of murder.”
While Australia previously repatriated groups of women and children with ISIS links in 2019 and 2022, and two women and four children reportedly escaped and returned without official support last year, a government spokesperson confirmed to CNN that Australia “is not and will not repatriate people from Syria.” The spokesperson added that security agencies continue to monitor the situation, warning that any returnees who have committed crimes “will be met with the full force of the law.”
Save the Children, an organization that previously attempted to bring these families home and even sued the Australian government to compel their acceptance, is not involved in the current effort. Mat Tinkler, CEO of Save the Children Australia, emphasized the plight of the children, stating, “These innocent children have already lost years of their childhood and deserve the chance to rebuild their lives in safety at home and to reintegrate into the Australian way of life.”
Hakmiyeh Ibrahim, director of the Al-Roj camp, has urged all foreign governments to repatriate their citizens, highlighting the risk of children being exposed to “dangerous ideologies” within the camp. She suggested that rehabilitation programs and specialized centers could benefit these children if they were removed from the camp environment.
Despite acknowledging the “unfortunate” presence of children in the camps, Prime Minister Albanese remains resolute, confirming that the families will not receive support from Australia.