Insights on 'ISIS Brides': Federal Police Prepare for More Returns

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More women and children are anticipated to return from Syria amid furore over the quiet arrival of a cohort in September.

The revelations, made by the Australian Federal Police in Senate estimates on Wednesday, come as the federal government and relevant agencies faced a day of grilling over the circumstances of their return.

The Opposition has flagged public safety concerns, urging clarity about the identities and current location of the individuals.

Here’s what we learnt.

Who are ‘ISIS brides’?

The cohort contains two Australian women and four children.

The women who had travelled or were taken to Syria to become partners of ISIS members, and their children, had been living in refugee camps in Syria after the collapse of the self-proclaimed Islamic State group in 2019.

Home Affairs revealed on Wednesday that two of the four children were born overseas and had to apply for Australian citizenship by descent.

Eligibility for citizenship by descent extends to those born outside Australia who have at least one parent who was Australian at the time, the Home Affairs website says.

How did they return?

The cohort smuggled themselves out of Syria’s violent al-Hol detention camp to Beirut, Lebanon, where they were issued Australian passports after passing security checks.

The group arrived in Australia on 26 September of their own volition and were not assisted or repatriated by Australian authorities, according to the government.

There are 37 Australian citizens, including 25 children, in the al-Roj camp alone, which currently houses 2,500 people. Source: EPA / Ahmed Mardnli

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reiterated that the individuals were not repatriated, nor settled, following a question from independent MP Dai Le, who asked whether the federal government would guarantee none of them would be settled in her western Sydney electorate.

“The government is not settling people,” Burke said in Question Time.

“What we have is a situation where we have a number of Australian citizens who made a terrible decision … to go off and join others who were involved in what has been described one of the most horrific organisations that the world has seen.”

What is their location?

Much of the questioning on Wednesday centred on the location of the cohort, which the Australian Federal Police (AFP) refused to disclose.

Stephen Nutt, AFP assistant commissioner for counter terrorism and special investigations, said this was due to “ongoing investigations” into the cohort.

Liberal senator Michaelia Cash asked if he could confirm reporting that part of the cohort could be in Victoria.

“I’m not prepared to confirm or make any statement about any individual’s location,” Nutt said.

A woman with blonde hair and wearing a black jacket

Senator Michaelia Cash raised questions over how the identity of the individuals was checked, where they were located and whether they were a risk to the community. Source: AAP

Home Affairs and relevant security agencies, including the AFP and ASIO, have been aware of the individual’s intent to return since June.

It remains unclear whether the women had committed any terrorism offences.

Nutt reassured the public that they were being monitored as part of Operation Howth, which has been going on since 2014, in coordination with other agencies.

“We will leave no stone unturned in understanding, identifying and investigating any activity, and if there are criminal offences, we will proceed as appropriate,” he said.

Nutt also revealed that relevant communities — including Assyrian Christians, Yazidis and other persecuted minorities in Australia who were the victims of the Islamic State — were not consulted or notified before the cohort’s return.

He said he expected AFP community liaison officers to check in with affected communities shortly.

AFP flags more returns from Syria

Cash questioned whether the AFP was making arrangements for the arrivals of any additional members, noting the ongoing advocacy by charity Save the Children to bring Australians home.

Last year, the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by the organisation for the federal government to organise a repatriation flight for 11 Australian children and their six mothers, who have been in detention camps for over five years.

Nutt confirmed more individuals would return to Australia, but could not specify how many would arrive, partially due to possible fluctuations.

“I can’t say for certain what the number is,” he said.

AFP commissioner Krissy Barrett added: “I do want to provide assurance and confidence that the AFP remains appropriately prepared and positioned to respond to any self-managed returns from the internally displaced persons camps.”

— with additional reporting from Australian Associated Press