Mayors slam Anthony Albanese for resettling wives and children of ISIS fighters in their communities

Three furious mayors are demanding a meeting with the PM after the wives and children of ISIS fighters were resettled in their communities.

Three Sydney mayors representing more than half a million Australians have accused the Prime Minister of creating distress in their communities by using them as a “dumping ground” for repatriated wives and children of ISIS fighters.

Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone, Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun and Campbelltown mayor George Greiss have sent a joint letter to Anthony Albanese requesting a meeting to address their concerns.

“Your government has confirmed a repatriation plan for 26 women and 42 children who are the family of Islamic State fighters, with the majority expected to resettle in South West Sydney, without any consultation of the communities from South West Sydney,” the letter read.

The mayors represent more than 560,000 residents.

Part of the letter sent from three Sydney mayors to Anthony Albanese.

Mr Carbone appeared on breakfast television on Wednesday with some stern words for Mr Albanese.

“We are not a dumping ground for the Prime Minister every time they want to bring people who actually do not follow our way of life,” he said on Sunrise.

“Those that turned their back on our country, those that went overseas voluntarily, fought against our armed service personnel, and just because they lost now they want to come back and have a new way of life.”

Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone and Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Sunrise/Channel 7

The mayors stressed they lived in proud multicultural communities who welcomed refugees, but this, they said, is part of the problem.

“We’re welcoming people here. We accept the refugees. All the people that ISIS displaced, they’re here now,” Mr Mannoun said. “Frank and I, and George, we are giving them citizenships, they are becoming Australians.

“Their question is, ‘You’ve brought us to this country and offered us safety and security but how could you let the people that have gone out there and put us through these terrible atrocities live next to us?’.

“This is what we’re saying: this is not a fair scenario. Why should they be living out here with the people who fled them in the first place?”

The mayors are requesting a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Kelly Barnes/NCA NewsWire

Mr Carbone added: “Imagine someone that lost their family member against ISIS and all of a sudden they need to live next door to these people. How would they feel? Imagine the triggering events, imagine the emotions and the trauma.

“We don’t want to set a precedent that next time we go to war that people can go and fight against us and it’s OK if you lose, you can come back.”

He finished with a dig at Mr Albanese’s lack of presence in the community.

“Together we’re speaking up for the community and what the community is saying while the Prime Minister is in the back of some limousine,” Mr Carbone said.

News.com.au has contacted the Prime Minister’s office for comment.

Australian women and children repatriated

Four Australian women and their 13 children arrived in Sydney on October 29 after being detained in Syria for more than three years.

The women and their children had been held in the al-Hol and al-Roj camps in the north eastern Syria region known as Rojava since March 2019.

Some had travelled with husbands who became ISIS fighters while others were taken to the war-torn region as teenagers and children by their parents before marrying local men.

They have been resettled in western Sydney, with further repatriations planned – including to Victoria – over coming months.

Kamalle Dabboussy with his daughter Mariam Dabboussy (right) and her daughters Aisha (left) and Fatema. Picture: Supplied

Australian Mariam Dabboussy and her three children were among the families repatriated.

Kamalle Dabboussy, the woman’s father, said it was a “joyous day” to see his daughter and grandchildren. He said his daughter had been coerced into Syria.

In a statement at the time, Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said the government had “carefully considered the range of security, community and welfare factors in making the decision to repatriate”.

“Allegations of unlawful activity will continue to be investigated by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprised of the Australian Federal Police, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, NSW Police and the NSW Crime Commission. Any identified offences may lead to law enforcement action being taken,” she said.

“The New South Wales government is providing extensive support services to assist these women and their children with reintegration alongside law enforcement engagement with these families.”

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told senate estimates on Tuesday there was an active investigation into whether the women had breached Australian laws.

Mr Kershaw said the women already here, and those yet to come, would continue to be assessed by the AFP and control orders could be placed on them at any time.