The Prime Minister is determined on repatriation of women involved with Islamic State.
PM Anthony Albanese made it clear that he has no feeling for Australian women who went to Syria to be with the Islamic State terrorist group and are now asking for a return home. His words are in the backdrop of contradictory information about their citizenship and the plan for returning them home.
In a speech to the Chengdu news agency, Mr Albanese responded directly to reporters from Alice Springs. "These women decided deliberately to be part of a terrorist organisation that has been banned", he explained. "They have rejected Australia and our way of life. The main thing we should do is to keep Australians secure and safe where they are." "
The Prime Minister’s sharp response is seemingly in contrast to the statements of the governor of the al-Roj camp in the northern region, Syria, where many foreign nationals including Australians are held. He said recently through the Associated Press that the Australians government is responsible for passing a couple of passports to several women in the camp which indicates a return pathway is being helped.
When asked how the contradiction was handled, the government spokesperson stated that she is unable to specifically comment on the operational aspects and discussions with foreign authorities. The only comment given was that it was always the rewriting of the Australian government policy as it aimed at the safety of the Australian people at all costs. They even mentioned that each case is studied based on its personal merits and also by Australian law, in the statement which the spokesperson made but unfortunately, she neither confirmed nor denied the passport reporting issues.
Legal and security experts are not on a consensus over this topic. Quite a number of legal experts are of the view that the left citizens, among which children born in the camps as well, by creating a legal void in a conflict zone are undermining national duty and at the same time are creating future sSeci risks. Meanwhile, others are in favor of the government’s reserved attitude, stressing the considerable hurdles involved in keeping track of and managing those who have been affected by extremist ideologies.
On the other hand, human rights defenders have never relaxed the pressure on the government to restore all Australian citizens in the camps. According to these campaigns, the women have to face the law in the Australian courts if there are any allegations of criminal activity but not be left in the run-down and life-threatening environments for the time being.
Mr Albanese’s remarks pledge a hardline approach, be continuing thus marking a politically sensitive issue that relates to national security trifles with complex humanitarian and legal obligations but the situation is still very much alive with prolonged diplomatic discussions behind the scenes.
Source: watoday
