A group of women and children, suspected of having links to the Islamic State (ISIS), is reportedly arranging their return to Australia from Syria, with flights potentially taking off in the coming days. These individuals possess Australian passports and are expected to leave Damascus after obtaining necessary security clearances.
The group consists of 13 Australian citizens, who are part of a larger cohort of 34 people that previously sought repatriation earlier in the year. Security checks are anticipated to take approximately 72 hours after their departure from the camp in Northern Syria. Even with clearance, additional security measures may be enforced during their flights back to Australia, though specific flight details remain unspecified. Some members might face criminal charges upon arrival.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke previously issued a temporary exclusion order affecting some women in the group, aimed at curtailing the return of high-risk individuals for up to two years. Such measures, initiated in 2019, were designed to prevent former ISIS combatants from coming back to Australia. Notably, there have been few instances of exclusion orders being previously enacted, and no such orders can be placed on children under 14 years of age.
Ton Burke clarified that, following assessments, no other Australians within this group required exclusion orders, and opposition parties are pushing for broader application of these orders. Concerns regarding national security have been raised, with Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Ted O’Brien emphasising that individuals who opted for affiliation with a terrorist group chose violence over peace.
Defence Minister Richard Marles expressed confidence in Australia’s security agencies to prevent any threats from those returning, reassuring that they continually monitor individuals of concern. He highlighted the competence of intelligence agencies in evaluating threats and ensuring national safety.
This ongoing situation surrounding the potential return of these individuals has raised significant public discourse and scrutiny regarding national security, citizenship rights, and the implications of repatriating those with alleged ties to terrorism.