A group of Australian women and children linked to Islamic State (ISIS) were stopped from leaving a detention camp in northeastern Syria on Monday, reigniting debates over whether so-called “ISIS brides” should be allowed back into the country.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson called for a complete ban on their return, saying they “made their bed” by travelling to a war zone to support terrorists and have “no place in our society.”
“These people travelled to a war torn country to support their husband terrorists. They have no place in our society.”
She criticised the government for not using powers such as Temporary Exclusion Orders or passport cancellations to prevent the return.
“The government is claiming there’s nothing they can do to stop them returning. That’s nonsense.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated that his government is not facilitating repatriation and is focused on keeping Australians safe. He told ABC, “We won’t be providing assistance or repatriation.”
“If you make your bed, you lie in it.”
As per SkyNews, the Prime Minister added that anyone returning who had broken the law would face the full force of Australian law.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is reportedly considering exclusion orders for some members of the group to prevent them from returning. The government emphasised that Australian security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.
However, Hanson criticised Burke, claiming he has “been caught receiving campaign help from the Muslim community leader who is allegedly coordinating the return from Australia.”
As per reports, security sources have told The Nightly that a respected figure in Sydney’s Muslim community may be coordinating the return of the group.
Hanson called for a ban on the return of ISIS-linked women, stating firmly:
“These ISIS brides must NEVER be allowed back into Australia. It’s time to say enough is enough.”
Photos surfaced showing the group of 34 women and children preparing to travel from Roj Camp to Damascus, but they were later turned back due to procedural issues between Kurdish and Syrian government-controlled areas.
The case echoes previous repatriation efforts: in 2019, the Morrison government brought back orphaned children, and the Albanese government repatriated four women and 13 children in 2022. But most Australians still detained in camps remain, with their safe return complicated by volatile conditions in northern Syria.
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