Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has voiced compassion for the 23 Australian children detained in Syria, but remains defiant against their desperate pleas to return home. Source: 9news.com.au.
The 11 women, dubbed the ISIS brides, and their 23 children are hoping to return to Australia after a false start earlier this month, which saw them turned back to the Roj detention camp on a technicality.
The cohort’s return has been a topic of fierce debate after the Government admitted they held Australian passports, with politicians arguing whether they pose a national security threat.
Mr Albanese, who has insisted that “they made their bed, they have to lie in it”, yesterday repeated his uncompromising stance.
“We’ve said that what we aren’t doing is providing repatriation of these people,” he told reporters.
“We’ve said that we have compassion for the children involved, but that others who chose to travel to that area have made those decisions in life.
“And that was a decision that was certainly contrary to not just Australian advice, but contrary to Australia’s national interest.”
The 34 Australians have been held at the Roj detention camp for almost seven years since the fall of the so-called caliphate in Syria due to their alleged ties to Islamic State fighters.
Earlier this month, they were turned back on an unspecified technicality after leaving for the airport in Damascus.
Later, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke admitted the group had Australian passports.
Mr Burke said he was unable to legally deny passports or issue temporary exclusion orders to all but one woman who has been banned from returning to Australia.
Federal Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will introduce legislation into Parliament to criminalise anyone helping ISIS-linked families return to Australia.
“Labor needs to be upfront with the Australian people about what is going on here. But most of all, Labor needs to support this legislation, which will help to protect Australians and protect our way of life,” he said earlier this week.
Last week, Catholic Social Services Australia called on the Albanese Government to repatriate the group.
CSSA chief Jerry Nockles urged Australia’s political leaders to “have the courage to offer pathways to repatriation and rehabilitation while ensuring community safety – the latter requiring more courage, but also as the approach that truly reflects our best selves as Australians”.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defiant as Australian children detained in Syria plead to come home (By Yashee Sharma, 9news.com.au)
