MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian government has decided not to bring back a group of 34 women and children connected to the Islamic State from Syria, as confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
These families were set to fly from Damascus to Australia. However, due to procedural issues, they were sent back to Roj camp in northeastern Syria.
Since the fall of the Islamic State in 2019, only two groups have returned to Australia with government help. Others have made their way back independently.
Albanese refrained from discussing whether the group held Australian passports but emphasized the government’s lack of support. “We have no sympathy,” he stated. “People chose to travel overseas to join a cause that undermined our way of life.”
This stance follows a 2024 federal court ruling favoring the government. International charity Save the Children argued for a moral responsibility to repatriate these citizens. Chief Executive Mat Tinkler highlighted the need to protect the welfare of children involved.
However, the Prime Minister clarified that if any of these individuals made their way back to Australia, they could face legal consequences. Under Australian law, traveling to the former Islamic State stronghold of al-Raqqa from 2014 to 2017 without a legitimate reason was a criminal offense, potentially leading to a 10-year prison sentence.
“It’s sad that children are caught up in this,” Albanese said. “However, we are not providing assistance. Those who return will face the law if they broke any rules.”
The last group of Australians repatriated from Syria arrived in Sydney in October 2022. This group included four mothers and 13 children, deemed the most vulnerable out of 60 Australians at the Roj camp. In 2019, eight children of two deceased Australian Islamic State fighters were brought back by the previous government.
In Australia, discussions around returning those linked to Islamic State have intensified, especially after the tragic attack during a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last December, where 15 lives were lost. The attackers were reportedly inspired by Islamic State ideology.
In a recent survey, 65% of Australians expressed concern about the safety implications of repatriating those with ties to terrorist groups, highlighting the public’s complex feelings on national security and compassion for families, especially children.
As the situation evolves, the debate continues—balancing security, legal responsibilities, and the welfare of the children affected.
For further information, you can read more about Australia’s stance on repatriation here.
