Australia urged to repatriate ISIS-linked woman, disabled child from Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – An Australian children’s advocacy organization on Monday called on the federal government to facilitate the return of an ISIS-linked Australian woman and her disabled child from Syria after reports emerged that the pair had disappeared within the Syrian detention system following a failed repatriation attempt.
Save the Children Australia urged the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to grant “safe passage” to 29-year-old Hodan Abby and her daughter, who suffers from serious medical conditions, after Australian authorities prevented the woman from boarding a flight from Damascus in May.
According to Australian media reports, Abby was barred from returning to Australia after Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke imposed a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) based on advice from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO). The measure prevents her from returning to Australia for up to two years on national security grounds, although it does not apply to her child.
Following the failed departure, Syrian authorities reportedly transferred Abby to a detention facility in northwestern Syria’s Idlib Governorate, where she has since lost contact with her family.
Save the Children Australia Chief Executive Mat Tinkler described the situation as deeply concerning, emphasizing the urgent medical needs of the child.
“We call on the federal government to grant them safe passage home, which would allow the child to access the necessary care and support to reintegrate into the Australian community,” Tinkler said in a statement cited by Australian media.
Tinkler also criticized the exclusion order, saying it effectively shifts Australia’s responsibilities onto another country.
“If there is evidence the woman has committed any crimes, Australia’s judicial and national security system is best placed to assess and manage any risks,” he added.
The Australian government has maintained a cautious approach toward repatriating citizens linked to ISIS, arguing that national security concerns must remain paramount.
According to reports, Abby traveled to Syria as a teenager in 2015. Her daughter was born the following year and reportedly suffers from injuries sustained during the conflict, including shrapnel wounds that affected her mobility and development.
After the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, Abby and her child were transferred to the Hawl Camp in northeast Syria, where thousands of relatives of suspected ISIS members have been held under the supervision of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.
In May, Australia repatriated several women and children from northeast Syria in two separate groups. Abby and her daughter were excluded from those operations.
Three women repatriated in the first group were arrested by the Australian Federal Police upon their arrival and later faced terrorism-related investigations.