Second group of Australian women and children linked to Islamic State to return home

A group of seven Australian women and 12 children with ties to the Islamic State militant group are preparing to return to Australia, authorities confirmed Tuesday. This planned repatriation is the second such instance this month, following the return of another group of Australians from a Syrian refugee camp.

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These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their children in an unspeakable situation.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the Australian government is not facilitating their travel. He stated that any individuals found to have committed crimes "can expect to face the full force of the law." Burke described their choice to join a "dangerous terrorist organisation" and place their children in an "unspeakable situation" as horrific.

The exact arrival date for the second group remains unspecified, and the minister's office did not immediately provide further details. Reports suggest they departed a camp in northeast Syria last Thursday and could arrive within days. Earlier this month, four women and nine children returned to Australia. Two of those women have since been charged with slavery offenses, and another faces terror-related charges, including alleged membership in the Islamic State.

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can expect to face the full force of the law

The planned returns have sparked criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the center-left government of failing to prevent repatriations. However, the government maintains there are "very serious limits" on its ability to prevent Australian citizens from re-entering the country. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have been preparing for such returns for over a decade and have established monitoring plans for arrivals.

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very serious limits