Islamic State wives touch down in Sydney after secret repatriation flight from Syria
Four returned ISIS brides have issued an apology expressing regret for the hurt they have caused as it emerged the Federal Government did not respond to requests for security assurances from NSW.
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The four returned ISIS brides have issued an apology “for the trouble and hurt we have caused” as it emerged the Federal Government did not respond to requests for security assurances from NSW authorities.
“We are deeply thankful to be back home in Australia with our children,” the women said in a joint statement.
“We appreciate the complexity and significant work it has taken from many people including the Australian government, to bring us home and we could not be more relieved to know our children are now safe.
“We are so thankful to be reunited with our families and are excited to have the opportunity to rebuild our lives as a part of the Australian community.
“We want to express our regret for the trouble and hurt we have caused, especially to our families.”
Some of the families of the women have been able to see them for the first time in years, at the “secure location” they are being housed in while they are interviewed by authorities.
Kamalle Dabboussy’s daughter Mariam left Sydney eight years ago after marrying her childhood sweetheart Kaled Zahab. He visited her once in the north east Syrian detention camp she’d been held in for close to four years.
On Saturday morning, just hours after her flight landed, he was able to hug her and his three young grandchildren close.
“She was a little cheeky, when I walked into the room I looked around and two of the children were sleeping on the couches and she just jumped from behind me and grabbed me,” he said.
“There were hugs and tears and it was a very emotional moment. It was quite overwhelming.”
Mr Dabboussy was adamant his daughter - and the three other women - posed no threat to Australia.
“These women and children aren’t a threat to the community, they’ve been thoroughly assessed and vetted by security agencies and they’ve recommended they come home,” he said.
He said the women knew there was a chance they would face charges upon their return, but maintained they’d been “coerced into Syria”.
“Everything Mariam’s done has been done for the safety of her children and herself,” he said.
He said she would continue to co-operate with authorities, and adhere to any controls put in place.
“We don’t know what those will be .. we know what they could contain, things like ankle bracelets to curfews to monitoring,” he said.
He said his grandchildren, aged four, six and eight, were this morning “looking with wonder and amazement at the world around them”.
“These children have a future in front of them where they didn’t have one before,” he said.
NO ASSURANCES GIVEN TO NSW
By Linda Silmalis
Exclusive
The Federal government did not provide the NSW government assurances that the Islamic State wives who were brought back to Australia this morning did not pose a security threat or safety risk to the people of NSW, it has emerged.
Four women and their 13 children flew in to Sydney this morning from the detention camps in Northern Syria where they had been detained for almost four years.
But in a move that is set to escalate tensions between NSW and Federal government over the issue, The Sunday Telegraph understands that assurances sought from the Commonwealth by the Perrottet government about the security risks posed by families were never provided prior to their arrival.
While the Commonwealth holds legal responsibility for determining who is repatriated - and had done so following security assessments undertaken by Commonwealth intelligence and law enforcement agencies - the NSW government had asked for assurances as to what the security or safety risks might be to NSW residents.
Despite not having received a reply, the NSW government has agreed to help the families agencies such as police, health, education, communities and justice will work with the Commonwealth to provide services to the families.
A NSW Government spokesman said the decision to repatriate the four women had been undertaken solely by the Federal government.
“The Commonwealth Government has made the decision to repatriate four Australian women and their thirteen children from Northern Syria to New South Wales,” the spokesman said.
“Following this decision, the NSW Government sought assurances from the Commonwealth Government that the return of these individuals posed no security or safety risk to the NSW public.
“We acknowledge the deep concerns held by members of the NSW community, who have fled the Islamic State or had family persecuted by the regime. NSW is a cohesive and resilient society that does not tolerate violent extremism and our agencies will work closely with the Commonwealth to assist in the reintegration of these repatriated Australians.”
As for whether any of the women would be charged for entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone, this would occur at a federal level.
Islamic State wives touch down after secret flight
Four Australian women and their 13 children have arrived back in Australia after a secret mission to repatriate them home from Syria.
The Emirates flight left Dubai and touched down at Sydney Airport at 6.20am on Saturday, more than half an hour ahead of schedule.
Federal Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil later confirmed the arrival of the group, and said the state government was providing them with extensive support services to reintegrate.
“At all times the focus has been the safety and security of all Australians as well as the safety of those involved in the operation,” she said.
“Informed by national security advice, the government has carefully considered the range of security, community and welfare factors in making the decision to repatriate.
“The decision to repatriate these women and their children was informed by individual assessments following detailed work by national security agencies.”
Ms O’Neil said the government’s decision followed similar repatriations carried out by the Morrison Government in 2019, as well as the US, Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, United Kingdom and, most recently, Canada.
She said allegations of unlawful activity would continue to be investigated by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team, while any identified offences could lead to law enforcement action being taken.
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler welcomed the repatriation of the women and children, but said the group would not rest “until every Australian child is brought home”.
“Today is a long-awaited and critical milestone for these children and their families,” he said.
“These children can now leave the horrors of war behind them, focus on recovery from their ordeal and look forward to a childhood free from fear and violence at home in Australia.
“While today we celebrate their arrival home, we know there are still over 30 Australian children stuck in camps in northeast Syria. We urge the government to repatriate them without further delay.”
There was a heavy federal police presence at the airport this morning with up to 10 officers standing at the arrivals gate where the flight’s passengers were due to exit. Two officers were holding automatic rifles.
A man, who declined to be named, told The Saturday Telegraph there were “tonnes” of police officers in customs and baggage claims after he got off the Emirates flight.
“It was like they wanted to arrest someone,” he said. “There were at least ten (officers) in my (customs) row.”
“Very hostile and intimidating.”
About half a dozen people in unmarked, black uniforms – understood to be Australian law enforcement officers who escorted the families – walked out of arrivals ahead of most passengers.
Police officers were clearly on edge and questioned reporters and photographers why they were at the airport.
The Australian families did not exit through arrivals.
They are expected to be taken to secure hotel accommodation to rest and be debriefed by authorities before returning to the community and extended families.
The 40+ hour journey were the first Australians from the Islamic State to be officially repatriated since eight children and grandchildren of dead fighters in 2019.
Another 43 Australian women and children remain in the Syrian detention camp, about 30 kilometres from the Iraqi border, are scheduled to be repatriated in the next few months after
DNA testing confirms the children are born to Australian citizens.
The first group, assessed as being the most vulnerable of the 60 Australians at the camp, gave their DNA samples on October 15, ABC reported.
Among those returning are Mariam Dabboussy and her three children, according to The Guardian. Her father, Sydney man Kamalle Dabboussy, has been an unofficial spokesman for the group of Australians detained in Syria.
While the Morrison government refused to repatriate more Australian women or children after the initial eight in 2019 due to security risks, the Albanese government reversed the policy and announced a plan to bring the women and children home.
Mr Albanese said on Friday his government had acted on national security advice just as his predecessors had done when the eight children were repatriated.
“My government will always act to keep Australians safe and will always act on the advice of the national security agencies,” Mr Albanese told reporters, according to the Associated Press.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on Mr Albanese to explain what security was in place to monitor the Islamic State women in Australia.
“Because we haven’t seen on our television screens an attack in Paris or London or Melbourne or Sydney for some time we think the threat has passed — it hasn’t passed,” he told Sky News.
“I received a briefing from the director-general of security only a couple of weeks ago … on my collective experience and what I know, I don’t think it’s in our country’s best interests.”
Other western countries like the United States, France and Germany have also been repatriating citizens from the Syrian detention camp, with Canada bringing its first two women home this week and immediately charging one with terrorism offences, and indicating the other would be placed on a terrorism bond.
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