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

A group of seven Australian women and 12 children with ties to the Islamic State terrorist group are making travel plans to return to Australia. Authorities confirmed this on Tuesday, indicating it would be the second such Australian group to depart a Syrian refugee camp this month.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the 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 added, "These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organization and to place their children in an unspeakable situation." Details regarding the group's arrival date were not immediately available, though reports suggest they left a camp in northeast Syria last Thursday and could arrive in the coming days.

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

Earlier this month, four women and nine children returned to Australia after spending over seven years in a Syrian camp. Following their return, two of those women were charged with slavery offenses, and another faced terror-related charges, including allegedly joining Islamic State. The planned return of the second group has drawn criticism from opponents who argue the government is not doing enough to prevent repatriations.

However, the government maintains there are "very serious limits" on preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the country. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have reportedly prepared for such returns for over a decade, with plans in place to monitor those arriving. Between 2012 and 2016, several Australian women traveled to Syria to join their husbands, who were allegedly members of ISIS. Many were subsequently detained in camps after the collapse of the caliphate in 2019.

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can expect to face the full force of the law.