Four women and 13 children return home to Australia from Syria after secret flight
A ‘joyous’ father has been reunited with his daughter and grandchildren after four Islamic State families returned to Australia.
An emotional man has been reunited with his daughter and grandchildren as four families returned home to Australia after being taken from a camp for Islamic State families in Syria.
Seventeen people – four women and 13 children – touched down in Sydney on Saturday morning.
It is the first repatriation of Australians since two groups of orphans were repatriated in July 2019.
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, following Islamic State’s last stand in the village of Baghouz.
They were removed from al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Mariam Dabboussy and her three children were part of the group who were repatriated.
For Kamalle Dabboussy, it was a “joyous day” he had long been waiting for.
“Today I want to take the opportunity to just enjoy the return of my daughter and grandchildren. It’s been an overwhelming day,” he told media on Saturday afternoon.
“I’ve just come from seeing my daughter and grandchildren. They have had a long extensive journey getting home they are tired, they are well. The kids are opening presents and toys are the ones that are awake anyway.
“It’s hard to put in words exactly what was you feeling at that point in time, but intense joy.”
Mr Dabboussy said he hoped they would come with live him, but they were waiting to hear about individualised controls authorities would put in place.
“We’ll wait and see what that looks like, so I don’t know,” he said.
“But we know what they could contain things from ankle bracelets to curfews to monitoring, but at the moment none of that information is clear.”
He said some of the children have serious health issues, while they would take it “one step at a time” in regards to sending them to school.
Mr Dabboussy said the four women have offered to co-operate with law enforcement and continue to be interviewed and participate in relevant processes.
“These women aren’t to my knowledge a concern of threat to Australia at all,” he said.
“They have been thoroughly assessed and vetted by security agencies, and they’ve recommended they come home, they’re recommended they’re not a threat.
“The men went and took the women with them. The men are either dead or in jail and the woman were then left and caught behind.
“There‘s no evidence to say that my daughter joined any such organisation and that’s certainly my understanding. And in private conversations I had with law enforcement, it’s their understanding as well.”
Mr Dabboussy said the women were aware they could potentially be charged if there were any alleged crimes.
“They were aware that there was always a chance and they were aware that may be there,” he said.
“But clearly in Mariam’s journey, and I’ve been very public about this, she was coerced into Syria. That was the position the government had told me, that’s been on the public record.
“Everything she has done has been for the safety of her children and herself. If she needs to explain that she will and that is the situation that she is in.
“I‘m not overly concerned with her story, we’ll see if there’s anything that’s unknown that comes out.”
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil officially confirmed the government’s move in a statement released on Saturday morning.
“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. Informed by national security advice, the government has carefully considered the range of security, community and welfare factors in making the decision to repatriate,” she said.
“The decision to repatriate these women and their children was informed by individual assessments following detailed work by national security agencies.
“The NSW government is providing extensive support services to assist these women and their children with reintegration alongside law enforcement engagement with these families.”
Ms O’Neil said any alleged crimes are being investigated by relevant law enforcement authorities.
“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.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not comment on whether the women would be charged under terrorist laws when asked about the issue on Friday.
Save the Children Australia chief executive Mat Tinkler called the announcement “a long-awaited and critical milestone”.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“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. We will not rest until every Australian child is brought home.”
He said the process of returning to Australia would be tough for the 17 women and children.
“For those children who are returning to Australia, they will now face a long road ahead to recover from any traumatic experiences and reintegrate into society,” Mr Tinkler said.
“For the repatriated women, this process may also include facing Australia’s judicial system, in cases where there is evidence that any crimes have been committed.”
Mr Tinkler said the “principle” and “right” decision was in the best interests of the Australian public.
“They’ve been living in one of the worst places in the world to be a child … and make no mistake, the only way we can guarantee their safety is to repatriate them right here to Australia,” he said.
Opposition home affairs spokesperson Karen Andrews slammed the government’s “inexcusable” decision.
“This entire mission has been handled abysmally by Prime Minister Albanese,” she said.
“We have a rookie Home Affairs Minister. We have little to no national security experience in cabinet, and yet a decision to bring back women and children from Syria has been taken in the very early days of this government.
“I don’t doubt that the friends and family of these women are delighted that they are back here in Australia. But there is no such thing as no risk involved in such a mission.
“I am concerned for the people of Australia. I am concerned about what will be put in place to make sure that these women and children are not in a position that they will cause any risk at all to Australian people.”
On if she expected any of the repatriated women to be charged, Ms Andrews said she hoped there had been proper investigations into their actions in Syria.
“I would hope the investigations continue in relation to what their actions are and what they may be when they are here in Australia,” she said.
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