Australian authorities have stated that a group of women with alleged connections to Islamic State group members will face legal action upon their return from Syria. The government was informed that four women and nine children were planning to fly back to Australia from Damascus. Police have been investigating Australians who traveled to the Islamic State’s former stronghold in Syria since 2015, looking into potential terrorism and crimes against humanity, such as slave trading.
Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett mentioned that some individuals will be arrested and charged, while others will undergo further investigations upon their arrival. The children will be offered programs to combat violent extremism. Despite being required to provide travel documents, the government has made it clear it will not assist in repatriating these individuals due to their support for a terrorist organization.
Minister Tony Burke emphasized the government’s stance, stating that those who aligned themselves with the terrorist group would not receive support. Efforts to prevent their return have been limited, with previous attempts thwarted by Syrian authorities. In a rare move, Australia issued a temporary exclusion order in February to prevent one woman’s return for up to two years.
Australian law imposes penalties for traveling to former Islamic State strongholds without a valid reason between 2014 and 2017. While the al-Hol camp in northeast Syria has closed, the threat of Islamic State fighters remains, as the group continues to carry out attacks in Syria and Iraq. The Australian government has repatriated citizens from Syrian camps in the past, but some have returned independently.