In recent weeks, six Australian women and children, linked to the Islamic State, were able to return to Australia. With no support from the Syrian government, they narrowly fled Syria on their own. This unanticipated return has sent shockwaves of fear through political leaders on all levels. Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley has expressed her concerns on how it occurred and if the Australian government was aware of their repatriation return.
It featured women who made their way to Syria as brides of Islamic State fighters. Many of them had kids who were born in the conflict ridden country. Yet their individual experiences differ tremendously. Not all of the women have maintained that they were forced to travel, many saying they entered the league of their own accord. These men and women are coming back at a time when Syria’s future is becoming increasingly precarious. For many areas access is still hazardous at the moment.
Circumstances of Departure and Return
The women and children were able to leave Syria after receiving Australian passports thanks to the processing by agencies in Lebanon. As with the original group, they passed detailed security and DNA checks carried out by Australian officials prior to their return. The government had been watching this community for a while, expecting that some would try to return on their own.
Even the Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, was concerned about the group’s comeback. She described them as a super dangerous group associated with the savage Islamic State horrible regime. The Albanese Labor government must come clean: either they knew about this cohort returning and hid it from the Australian public, or worse, family members of Islamic State terrorists returned to Australia without the government’s knowledge.
Ley stressed the importance of the government being upfront about how these people were readmitted to the country. Her remarks speak to an increasing and laudable wariness toward national security and how such returns should be treated.
Ongoing Government Response
These individuals have been on the Australian government’s radar since. It has not provided any of the needed support to facilitate their repatriation from Syrian IDP camps. After the plan was leaked to reporters, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out restoring the plan to rescue the 40 or so Australians left behind in Syria. He conveyed the administration’s improved stance toward preventing any further repatriation campaigns.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke admitted that Syria has become more unstable. As they said, “The crisis in Syria is spiraling out of control.” This welcome recognition highlights the many concerns that are implicated in the safety and security of Australians remaining in the area of the conflict.
Political Reactions and Future Implications
The return of this group has reignited a long dormant debate over Australia’s policy towards nationals linked to extremist organisations. Ley demanded an explanation from the Albanese government on how on earth these women and children were allowed to return. She wrote, “Now they appear to have crept back in under the radar. This begs deeper questions of how and why they were allowed back in. Australians deserve answers.”
The political climate on this issue is extremely charged. Large variety stakeholders (including the public, proponents, and opponents) are increasingly asking for transparency in decision making and the measures that they ensure the national interest. As negotiations continue, the Australian people will be watching closely. They are looking for movement on federal policy relating to nationals who travel to or engage with extremist groups.
