A group of Australian women and children linked to Islamic State (IS) has returned to Australia from Syria. According to BBC, two planes landed in Melbourne and Sydney on Tuesday, carrying seven women and twelve children. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the government's stance, stating that those who committed crimes can expect legal consequences.
Key Takeaways
Australia has repatriated a group of seven women and twelve children linked to Islamic State (IS) from Syria. This follows an earlier return of four women and nine children who faced charges upon arrival.
- Two groups of IS-linked families returned to Australia this month
- Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated they will face legal consequences if crimes were committed
- Authorities have prepared for their return since 2014 with monitoring plans in place
The group is understood to be the last Australians held in the al-Roj camp in northeast Syria since 2019. They reportedly left the camp on Thursday and boarded flights to Australia from Damascus on Monday. Authorities have been preparing for their return since 2014, with plans in place to manage and monitor them.
Among those returning are Kirsty Rosse-Emile, who left Australia at 19, and Nesrine Zahab, who claimed she was tricked into traveling to Syria. Others include Sumaya Zahab and Aminah Zahab, sister and mother of IS recruiter Muhammad Zahab. One woman remains in Syria due to a temporary exclusion order.
The return has drawn criticism from opponents, who argue the government failed to stop repatriations. However, the government maintains there are limits on preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the country. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have prepared for such returns for over a decade.
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