Australia: Government will not assist citizens linked to Islamic State returning home
The Australian government announced today that it will not provide any assistance to 13 family members linked to the extremist group Islamic State who are planning to return from Syria. Those suspected of criminal activities will face legal repercussions.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 12:30
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CENTRAL NEWS AGENCY
(Sydney, May 6, Central News Agency wire report) The Australian government stated today that it will not provide any assistance to 13 family members associated with the extremist group Islamic State who are stranded in Syria and planning to return home. Those suspected of engaging in criminal activities will face legal sanctions.
According to Reuters, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, "There is very little the authorities can do to prevent Australian citizens from entering." He also pointed out: "The government will not, and has no intention of, assisting these people. They made egregious and shameful decisions."
This group includes four women and nine children, Burke added, "The government will absolutely not assist these people; this is a consequence of their own decisions."
Burke stated that any returnees suspected of criminal activity will "without exception be subjected to the full force of the law," but he did not specify the exact charges they might face.
The Australian authorities have been preparing for this situation for years, Burke said, noting that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have had contingency plans in place since 2014 to deal with the return of citizens linked to extremist organizations.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that some returning Australian citizens may be arrested and prosecuted upon arrival; others may remain under investigation; children will receive community integration and counseling programs.
According to Australian media reports, some Australian women traveled to Syria between 2012 and 2016 to reunite with their husbands who had reportedly joined Islamic State. After the caliphate collapsed in 2019, many were held in detention camps, and some have since returned to Australia.
The main local detention camp is Al-Hol camp near the Iraqi border. The Kurdish-led "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) were responsible for guarding more than 10 facilities holding Islamic State militants and their associated civilians (including foreigners).
After the collapse of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" in January this year, the United States began transferring detained Islamic State members out of Syria.
In February this year, fewer than 1,000 families remained in the detention camps in northeastern Syria used to hold family members of suspected Islamic State militants. (Translated by Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150506
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(Sydney, May 6, Central News Agency wire report) The Australian government stated today that it will not provide any assistance to 13 family members associated with the extremist group Islamic State who are stranded in Syria and planning to return home. Those suspected of engaging in criminal activities will face legal sanctions.
According to Reuters, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said, "There is very little the authorities can do to prevent Australian citizens from entering." He also pointed out: "The government will not, and has no intention of, assisting these people. They made egregious and shameful decisions."
This group includes four women and nine children, Burke added, "The government will absolutely not assist these people; this is a consequence of their own decisions."
Burke stated that any returnees suspected of criminal activity will "without exception be subjected to the full force of the law," but he did not specify the exact charges they might face.
The Australian authorities have been preparing for this situation for years, Burke said, noting that law enforcement and intelligence agencies have had contingency plans in place since 2014 to deal with the return of citizens linked to extremist organizations.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that some returning Australian citizens may be arrested and prosecuted upon arrival; others may remain under investigation; children will receive community integration and counseling programs.
According to Australian media reports, some Australian women traveled to Syria between 2012 and 2016 to reunite with their husbands who had reportedly joined Islamic State. After the caliphate collapsed in 2019, many were held in detention camps, and some have since returned to Australia.
The main local detention camp is Al-Hol camp near the Iraqi border. The Kurdish-led "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) were responsible for guarding more than 10 facilities holding Islamic State militants and their associated civilians (including foreigners).
After the collapse of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" in January this year, the United States began transferring detained Islamic State members out of Syria.
In February this year, fewer than 1,000 families remained in the detention camps in northeastern Syria used to hold family members of suspected Islamic State militants. (Translated by Chu Hsiang-ping) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship of yours is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.