Australian women, children linked to ISIS plan return from Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A group of seven Australian women and 12 children linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) are preparing to return to Australia from northeastern Syria, Australian authorities said on Tuesday, marking the second repatriation group this month.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government was not facilitating the travel arrangements but warned that anyone accused of crimes would face legal action upon arrival.
“These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Burke said in a statement.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the group reportedly left a camp in northeastern Syria on May 21 and could arrive in Australia within days.
Earlier in May, Australia repatriated four women and nine children who had spent more than seven years in camps in northeast Syria. Australian authorities later charged two of the women with slavery-related offences, while another woman faced terrorism-related charges, including allegedly joining ISIS.
The latest repatriation effort has sparked criticism from political opponents, who accused the Australian government of failing to halt the returns. Canberra, however, said there were “very serious limits” to preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the country.
Australian officials added that intelligence and law enforcement agencies had spent years preparing for such cases and had monitoring measures in place for returnees.
Between 2012 and 2016, several Australian women travelled to Syria with husbands affiliated with ISIS. Following the territorial defeat of the group in 2019, many foreign women and children were transferred to camps and detention facilities run by the Syrian Democratic Forces in northeastern Syria.