Grandfather pleads for compassion for children rescued from Syria

The grandfather of a young Australian girl rescued from Syria has pleaded for compassion and stability for children returning from conflict zones, sharing his family's deeply personal and harrowing experience. John*, whose granddaughter Jasmine was five years old when she was brought to Australia in 2023, described the profound trauma the child endured. Jasmine, born in Syria, had witnessed the deaths of her parents and siblings and suffered nightmares so severe she struggled to scream when waking.

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She'd just be frozen.

"She'd just be frozen," John told the ABC, recounting Jasmine's vivid memories of starving dogs consuming dead bodies. For a year and a half, John and his wife dedicated themselves to nurturing Jasmine, striving to make her feel safe and comfortable. Her survival story, he believes, was a miracle, especially considering the circumstances from which she was rescued – an orphanage in northern Syria.

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We spent a year and a half literally just nurturing her … making her feel safe, making her feel comfortable.

John decided to share his family's story, which has not been previously reported, amidst heightened public discussion about the potential risks associated with the return of Australian women and children from Syria and Iraq. He urged politicians and the public to show empathy, emphasizing the "incredible" trauma these children face and their need for love and care. He argued that while accountability for alleged crimes is necessary, the prevailing tone from political figures and media outlets has stoked "fear and division."

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The trauma that they would be in is incredible.

"They're using human suffering for political gain," John stated, criticizing the Australian government's stance as "spineless in defending children." He firmly believes that children are innocent, regardless of their circumstances. John's daughter, Jasmine's mother, had traveled to Syria over a decade ago with her two older children following the death of her Australian husband there. While he admits he doesn't know the specifics of his son-in-law's activities, he was unaware of any extremist affiliations before his death. His daughter's decision to go to Syria, he explained, was driven by grief and a desire to see where her husband was buried, a move that deeply upset and worried him at the time.

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They're using human suffering for political gain.