ISIS brides: Tony Burke confirms 13 members of cohort have plans to return to Australia, AFP arrests planned
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has confirmed that 13 members of the ISIS brides cohort have made plans to return to Australia, as the AFP confirms some arrests are now planned.
An ISIS-linked group of women and children who have booked flights to return to Australia have been warned by the country’s top cop that there will be arrests.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Wednesday that 13 members have made plans to return.
The official confirmation came after speculation last week that the group had travelled from a northern Syria refugee camp to the capital Damascus and bought plane tickets.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Burke warned the group, which includes four women and nine children, would “face the full force of the law” after making the “horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation”.
The group were understood to have been living in the al-Roj camp in northern Syria for several years after travelling to the region as far back as 2014 during the ISIS caliphate.
At a joint AFP and ASIO press conference, Mr Burke insisted that the Government was not assisting the individuals with repatriation.
He said agencies have been preparing for their return since 2014 and “have long-standing plans in place to manage and monitor them”.
Ms Barrett added that there was operational planning underway for their return and the reintegration of the children into the community.
“Some individuals will be arrested and charged. I will not flag how many individuals will be arrested or when they will be arrested, to protect a number of our investigations,” she said.
“Some will face continued investigations when they arrive in Australia, and children who return in the cohort will be asked to undergo community integration programs, therapeutic support and countering violent extremism programs.”
The Nightly last year revealed Sydney doctor and independent advocate Dr Jamal Rifi had flown to the Middle East from Sydney to coordinate an attempt to repatriate the Australians.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam last week demanded the Albanese Government immediately decide whether to block or manage the return of the cohort from flying back to Australia.
On Wednesday he reiterated his call and accused the Government of being involved in a “behind-close-doors, nudge-nudge, wink-wink” operation with Dr Rifi to help them return.
“The fact that they’re… perhaps in the air right now coming back to Australia should send a shiver down the spine of every Australian,” Senator Duniam said.
“There’s still 21 ‘ISIS bride’ cohort members in Syria, and of course, they will ultimately come back. You can rest assured that Tony Burke’s chief campaigner, Dr Jamail Rifi, is working on the balance of that crowd coming back to Australia.
“This is not in our national interest. It is not right to have these people return to Australia.”
