Group of women and children with alleged ISIL ties returns to Australia | ISIL/ISIS News
Nineteen Women and Children Linked to ISIL Return to Australia Amid Controversy
A group of 19 women and children with alleged connections to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) returned to Australia this week, prompting warnings from the government about potential legal consequences for any criminal activities.
The six women and 13 children arrived from a Syrian refugee camp on Tuesday, with one group landing in Sydney and another in Melbourne. This marks the second such repatriation of Australian nationals from Syria within the month. The Australian government has emphasized that it did not facilitate their return.
Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke addressed the situation, stating, “These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organization and to place their children in an unspeakable situation.”
The influx of Australian women to Syria began in 2012, often to marry ISIL members. Some have alleged they were forcibly taken. At its peak in 2015, ISIL controlled territory in Syria and Iraq comparable to the size of the United Kingdom.
Although the Australian Federal Police did not make any arrests upon the group’s arrival, investigations are ongoing. The return of the group has sparked public outcry, evidenced by a significant police presence at Melbourne Airport, where a scuffle reportedly occurred as they exited.
Australia is one of several Western nations cautious about repatriating citizens who joined ISIL. Countries such as France and the UK have resisted allowing former members to return. In 2022, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child criticized France for not repatriating children born to French nationals in Syria, alleging it violated their rights. Meanwhile, the UK revoked citizenship for Shamima Begum, citing national security concerns.
Earlier in February, the Australian government issued a temporary exclusion order against a woman in Syria, barring her from returning until February 2028. Her child, however, opted to stay with her. This decision is currently being contested by the family.
Afzal Ashraf, a visiting fellow at Loughborough University focusing on international relations and security, noted that the risks associated with returning individuals need to be examined in a balanced manner. “There will be some security challenges, because people like this are likely to suffer from issues such as PTSD,” Ashraf stated. He added that while concerns about security are valid, returning nationals do not significantly heighten overall risks.
Ashraf advocated for enhanced mental health services and positive reintegration programs for returnees to mitigate potential threats. He underscored that ISIL has claimed more lives among Muslims than in Western countries.
Earlier this month, a separate group consisting of four women and 13 children was also repatriated to Australia, resulting in three of the women being arrested upon arrival.
