13 Australians return from Syria... Federal police are preparing for large-scale arrests and investigations

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revealed on Wednesday (May 6) that his country's government has been officially informed by the Syrian government of the deportation of 13 Australians (4 women and 9 children) from ISIS families, where they are expected to arrive at the end of this week.

In a statement, the Australian minister confirmed that Australia did not provide any assistance in the return process, and described the women's decision to travel to Syria in the past as appalling, shameful, appalling and shameful, stressing that the government will not tolerate any potential wrongdoing, and that everyone involved will face the maximum penalty stipulated by law.

Investigations have been going on for years... Possible Charges of Terrorism and Slave Trade

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Chrissy Barrett said police were awaiting the group's arrival, stressing that some of the women would be arrested as soon as they arrived, while others would be subject to ongoing investigations.

Barrett explained in a statement on May 6 that the competent authorities have been gathering evidence for about ten years about Australians' travel to Syria during the period of ISIS's control, including the possibility of committing terrorist crimes or crimes against humanity such as engaging in the slave trade, indicating that the investigations include travel to a war zone in illegal ways in violation of Australian law.

Children undergo treatment and rehabilitation programs

Police confirmed that the nine children would not be treated as suspects, but would undergo mandatory programs that included therapeutic community integration and countering violent extremism programs.

Defenders of children's rights have pointed out that these children have lived for years in tents inside desert camps, with limited health care and a significant disruption in their education, and have suffered for seven years in traumatic conditions, unconcerned with what their relatives have done.

Human rights organizations,  Save the Children Australia, filed a lawsuit in 2023 on behalf of 11 women and 20 children, demanding their return to Australia, but the federal court rejected the lawsuit on the grounds that the government had no direct control over their places of detention inside Syria.

New South Wales Premier Chris Means said any potential repatriation would require clear safeguards and support programmes, particularly for children, to facilitate their reintegration into society.

Security Concerns... and political criticism

Australian Security Agency  (ASIO) chief  Mike Burgess said the agency had assessed the risks associated with the group's return and shared information with police, stressing that the returnees would be investigated although there was no immediate concern about their return. Traveling to Syria during the height of ISIS activity required facilitation and coordination, reinforcing suspicions and motives.

The opposition criticized the government for not taking action to prevent the group's return, noting the possibility of canceling passports or issuing temporary exclusion orders.

Senator Jono Dunyam, a spokesman for Australia's opposition  to education, said the government had "one last chance" to block their entry, questioning the cost taxpayers would incur to monitor them after they returned.

Previous failed attempts... and List Exclusion Orders

The return follows a failed attempt in February to repatriate a larger group from Roj camp, when Syrian authorities prevented them from leaving and a woman was barred from returning to Australia under a temporary exclusion order that remains in place, which allows for the return of citizens deemed dangerous for up to two years, but does not apply to children under the age of 14.

Once returnees from ISIS  areas arrive at Australian airports, a series of tight security and legal measures begin, with the federal police arresting adults as soon as they disembark and subjecting them to in-depth investigations to determine their level of affiliation with the group, based on  "declared areas"  laws that make it a crime in itself to be in certain areas inside Syria, making it easy to bring accusations even in the absence of direct evidence of fighting.

Police use "control orders" that restrict the movement of returnees through electronic tracking devices, curfews, prohibitions on the use of encrypted apps or communication with certain parties, as well as periodic reports to the police, while children are taken directly to comprehensive health and psychological assessments, and are often placed in the care of relatives within Australia and integrated into rehabilitation and deradicalization programmes under social and security supervision.

The government uses temporary exclusion orders (TEOs) to control the conditions of return of individuals and impose restrictions on them for up to two years, while the revocation of citizenship for dual nationals has been reversed after legal challenges, so the state is moving towards prosecuting returnees within its territory rather than leaving them abroad.  

The Roj camp is home to around 2,000 women and children of different nationalities, who were detained after the collapse of ISIS in 2019, and Australia repatriated a number of women and children in 2019, 2022 and 2023, while others returned without government assistance, and discussions continue within Australia about how to balance national security with humanitarian obligations towards women and children stranded in conflict zones.