DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

'ISIS bride' barred from Australia issued permit to return home

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Australia has issued a permit for an IS-linked citizen to return home after legal advice determined she could no longer be excluded.
  • The woman, previously barred by a temporary exclusion order, will face extensive surveillance and restrictions upon arrival.
  • She and her child are reportedly the last Australians expected to return from Syrian camps housing families of IS fighters.

A dual citizen with alleged links to the Islamic State will be allowed to return to Australia, after the government received legal advice it was obligated to issue her a permit. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the temporary exclusion order preventing her return could no longer be applied.

We received the final advice yesterday that we can no longer have an exclusion condition any longer for her.

— Tony BurkeHome Affairs Minister Tony Burke explaining the government's legal obligation to issue a return permit.

"We received the final advice yesterday that we can no longer have an exclusion condition any longer for her," Burke said. "The temporary exclusion order applies until a permit is issued, and when a permit is requested, a permit lawfully has to be issued."

The woman, who has been living in Syria with her child, was the only person issued a temporary exclusion order from the group of women and children connected to the Islamic State in Syrian camps. Security agencies are preparing to implement a high level of surveillance.

The temporary exclusion order applies until a permit is issued, and when a permit is requested, a permit lawfully has to be issued.

— Tony BurkeHome Affairs Minister Tony Burke detailing the process for the woman's return.

"The conditions that then do apply to her are everything that is possible," Burke stated. "For example, she will have to report and we will have to know where she lives, where she works, where she studies, if she books a ticket to anywhere." She will also face strict controls on telecommunications, requiring 24 hours' notice to authorities before using any device, including a phone. "There will be a very high level of surveillance, and we have gone absolutely to the legal limit that we are able to," he added.

The conditions that then do apply to her are everything that is possible.

— Tony BurkeHome Affairs Minister Tony Burke describing the stringent surveillance measures.

This development marks the expected return of the last Australian citizens from the Syrian camps established after the fall of the Islamic State caliphate in 2014.

For example, she will have to report and we will have to know where she lives, where she works, where she studies, if she books a ticket to anywhere.

— Tony BurkeHome Affairs Minister Tony Burke outlining specific reporting requirements for the returnee.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog