Australia’s Stance on Repatriation of ISIS-Connected Citizens
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Australia will not repatriate citizens involved with Islamic State members, emphasizing a stark message to families stuck in Syria: “If you make your bed, you lie in it.”
Incident Involving Australian Families in Syria
Albanese’s remarks followed reports indicating that 34 Australian women and children were turned back by Syrian authorities after leaving a detention camp for ISIS-related individuals in an attempt to return to Australia through Damascus.
Failed Departure from Al-Roj Camp
The families, having exited the Al-Roj camp, were informed by Syrian officials that their departure procedures were incomplete, preventing their travel, as reported by the Associated Press.
Government’s Firm Stance
“We won’t repatriate them,” Albanese told the ABC, stressing that these individuals traveled abroad to support Islamic State and its fundamental goals.
International Pressure for Repatriation
Australia, along with other countries such as the US and UK, faces increasing pressure to repatriate thousands of detained citizens, primarily women and children, who have been trapped in Syrian camps since the Caliphate’s downfall more than five years ago.
Concerns Over Human Rights Violations
Organizations like Amnesty International have raised alarms about severe human rights abuses in these camps, where detainees, some trafficked to ISIS or born there, are subjected to torture and gender-based violence.
Calls for Repatriation and Government Response
A spokesperson for the Australian government reaffirmed that repatriation is not on the agenda while assuring that security agencies are monitoring the situation in Syria. Save the Children advocates for the innocent children in these camps, underscoring their right to return and rebuild their lives safely in Australia.
