ISIS brides to remain in Syrian prisons despite US government offer to help repatriate

Despite pressure from the US government for Australia to repatriate its ISIS brides, dozens of women and children are set to remain stranded in Syrian prisons for the foreseeable future.

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Dozens of Australian wives and children of captured Islamic State fighters in Syrian prison camps will remain stranded for the foreseeable future.

Despite pressure from the US government for Australia to repatriate the “ISIS brides” and their children, current international conditions made their rescue almost impossible, said Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

The US has repeatedly pushed for Australia and other countries of origin, to take responsibility for bringing to justice their citizens who fought for Islamic State, and to take in their family members.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington DC. Picture: Supplied

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday local time said he offered to “work with” Australia to bring back the displaced Australians.

“We’ve been very clear, our expectation is that the places that these fighters are being detained may not be sustainable and we will need to work with each host country to bring the people back,” he said.

“We think that’s important. We’ve been consistent across all the nations that have fighters that are there inside of Syria.”

Ms Payne said some progress had been made in bringing children home, but that it would be some time before a resolution could be found.

“It’s important to note that Australia has repatriated some orphans from Syria, but these are very complex challenges and I don’t think that that should be underestimated,” Ms Payne said.

“The priority of the Australian government is the protection of Australia and the Australian community. We’re a good international citizen and we don’t shy away from our responsibilities.”

Ms Payne said some progress had been made in bringing children home, but that it would be some time before a resolution could be found. Picture: Supplied

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“And those also, of course, include our responsibilities to citizens at home, to our diplomats and officials who would be required to travel into what are very dangerous situations. And as the government has repeatedly said … we will not put Australian lives at risk to try to extract people.”

What was already a difficult situation had been further strained by the coronavirus.

“COVID-19 has further complicated this picture extensively,” Ms Payne said.

“We have seen closed borders, significant travel restrictions, significant international travel bans put in place, including of course in Australia.

“In itself, movement in Syria and in the region is now more complex than ever. And at home we see our states and territories are very stretched, as an understatement in some cases, because of the impact of COVID-19 infections.

“So any assessment of the sorts of resources that would be needed to reintegrate, to monitor, to secure, to deradicalise people who are brought home are under significantly more pressure than they usually would be.”

Pompeo said the US government has offered to “work with” the Australian government to bring its citizens back from Syria. Picture: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Ms Payne said bringing the women and children back to Australia was too risky.

“We will not put our communities at home at risk, nor our officials abroad to extract people from Syria under current conditions,” she said.

“We always take a case-by-case approach to choose individuals. But at this point in time, it’s an extremely complex situation and that remains the government’s position.”

Save the Children Australia Deputy CEO Mat Tinkler said Australia has a responsibility to bring the families back.

“There aren’t any excuses left. The Australian government needs to bring these Australian children and their mothers home,” he said.

“The alternative – leaving Aussie kids languishing in a war zone – is unthinkable.”

Originally published as ISIS brides to remain in Syrian prisons despite US government offer to help repatriate