A contingent of women and children from Australia, who have connections to the Islamic State, have secured tickets on a commercial flight and are poised to make their way back to Australia. Their departure from Damascus is anticipated in the coming days.
This group includes four women and nine children, all holding Australian citizenship, who recently exited the al-Roj detention facility located in northeastern Syria last Saturday.
These individuals have been residing in the camp for seven years following the downfall of the Islamic State’s territorial hold.
An insider, who is closely informed about the travel arrangements, revealed to the Sydney Morning Herald that this return effort is being managed privately and without direct intervention from the Australian government.
The group is slated to leave Damascus soon, as per current plans.
In an interview with ABC Radio National on Monday morning, Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed that the Australian government is not directly involved in facilitating the return of these families.
‘The fundamental point to make is that the government is not involved in the repatriation of these people,’ Marles said.
‘We are not providing any assistance for them to come back to Australia at this time.’
A group of ISIS brides and their children are on their way back to Australia from Syria (file)
Marles said Australia’s intelligence agencies were closely monitoring the situation and would assess any security risks associated with people returning to the country.
‘Our intelligence agencies monitor everyone who comes into Australia,’ he said.
‘Where there are security concerns, they are identified and managed appropriately. I won’t go into individual cases, but our agencies are very much on the job.’
The group is making a second attempt to return to Australia after a failed effort earlier this year.
In February, a larger cohort of 11 families, comprising 34 women and children, tried to leave but were stopped around 50 kilometres into their journey and forced to turn back.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issued one‑off emergency passports to all members of the group earlier this year, although authorities later placed at least one woman under a Temporary Exclusion Order, barring her return to Australia for up to two years while investigators consider potential criminal charges.
The Australian government has previously warned that that the cohort would be met with ‘the full force of the law’ if they were found to have committed a crime when they returned.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said the government should do everything possible to prevent the return of Australians who left the country to join the Islamic State caliphate.
Marles (pictured) said the government was aware of the group, and not offering repatriation
‘These are people who chose to leave Australia to be part of Islamic State, which is a terrorist organisation,’ Taylor told the ABC on Sunday.
‘Supporting ISIS is a terrorist offence, and Australian security and national interests must come first.’
Taylor accused the government of quietly facilitating the group’s return through administrative support, including the issuing of passports, DNA testing and assistance from third parties.
‘It is clear the government has been providing assistance, whether directly or indirectly, to enable this repatriation,’ he said.
‘We introduced legislation to stop that from happening and the government rejected it.’
Asked whether citizens were entitled to passports, Taylor said ministers retained discretion.
‘The government should make every possible effort not to accept these people back into the country,’ he said.
al‑Roj camp director Hakmiyeh Ibrahim said the situation had changed since the failed attempt to return the group earlier this year.
A group of ISIS brides attempted to return to Australia in February, but were turned back
Speaking to the ABC on Friday, Ibrahim said authorities had now resolved coordination issues.
‘Unlike February, the co‑ordination was perfect,’ he said.
‘It was done between us and the Syrian government, to be able to fly back these families to their country.’
