Furious Western Sydney leaders demand meeting with PM over the return of ISIS wives

Angry Western Sydney leaders have slammed the PM for failing to consult with Syrian refugees before pressing ahead with a plan to bring ISIS brides back to their suburbs.

Furious Western Sydney leaders are calling for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese — accusing him of pressing ahead with the resettlement of ISIS families into their neighbourhoods without enough community consultation.

State MPs and local and community leaders have banded together to slam Mr Albanese’s push to bring back about 60 women and children who lived as a part of the Islamic State during its torturous regime in Syria and Iraq.

State Labor MP for Fairfield Guy Zangari broke ranks to criticise his federal counterpart Chris Bowen and the Commonwealth for leaving his community in the dark.

“The fact that this is happening is very triggering to them … the community should be brought along for the broader discussion so they aren’t being left out,” he said.

“They have every right to feel that way because of the treatment at the hands of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. They deserve to be involved in conversations.

Fairfield MP Guy Zangari. Picture: AAP

Federal MP and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. Picture: Martin Ollman

“I’m not going to sugar coat it, I am just reflecting the concerns of my community. As a Labor Party MP, I would expect that my local federal member and the government would consult with me and my community.”

He said Mr Bowen had not spoken to him about the issue. Mr Bowen was contacted for a response.

The first cohort of ISIS families arrived in Sydney last week. Picture: Ivor Prickett/The New York Times Title

Fowler Federal MP Dai Le — whose electorate includes parts of Fairfield — said the mission has been “executed very poorly”.

“My community were not consulted on how, when and where the families will be repatriated at all. I know many locals are feeling very hurt and betrayed by this news,” she said.

“I wrote to both the Home Affairs Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister earlier this month to request further details on the repatriation program. I am yet to hear back from them.

“It seems that the government has conducted this repatriation program under a cloak of secrecy, with no regard for the families whose sons and daughters fought against ISIS.”

Jacqueline Georges is furious at the government's plan. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said Syrian refugees in Fairfield would now undergo a “fresh wave of trauma”.

“There is serious discontent because residents feel Western Sydney has been singled out to repatriate these ISIS families. A lot of the people who have settled in this area as refugees, fled to escape ISIS. Some people in our community have actually been targeted by ISIS.”

He blamed Mr Albanese for have a “veil of secrecy” over the plans.

“There has been no communication from the government about this, and I want to speak to the Prime Minister. He’s had no consultation with the people of Western Sydney, and neither has anyone else.”

Coalition of Assyrian Parties Australia Secretary Jacqueline Georges said the Prime Minister should meet with her and other ISIS persecuted minorities to learn the impact of his decision.

“Why not consult with us? Or maybe they can put them somewhere else? They decided they wanted to do (this) and they are doing it,” she said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“(Assyrians) have seen so much torture on the hands of these people. And now they are preferred while the victims just forgotten.”

One Nation MP Mark Latham said he felt sorry for Syrian refugees in Fairfield who will now risk living next door to relatives of the people who drove them to leave their homes and countries.

“I feel very sorry for the Syrians who came here … now in the space of seven years the people they escaped are following them,” he said.

“Albanese has done this, (so) I’ll nominate Marrickville as the place they should live and the Prime Minister’s security detail can watch them.”

Mr Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neill were contacted for a response.

A spokesman for Mr Bowen said: “Mr Bowen engages with community leaders all the time on a range issues. On this particular issue, a number of differing views have been expressed.”

LANDING IN SECRET

The Daily Telegraph understands about 16 women and 42 children will be returned in at least three cohorts.

Four women and their 13 children were the first to arrive in Sydney on Saturday after leaving detention camps in Northern Syria where they had been detained for almost four years.

Their arrival came as it emerged the federal governement did not provide the NSW government assurances that the wives did not pose a security threat or safety risk to the people of NSW.

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.

Heavily armed AFP uniformed officers at Sydney Airport today. Picture: Julian Andrews

A NSW Government spokesman said the decision to repatriate the four women had been undertaken solely by the federal government.

Meanwhile, the brides who returned on Saturday issued an apology “for the trouble and hurt we have caused”.

“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 reunites with his daughter Mariam Dabboussy and her three children when in Syria. Source: ABC

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.