Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi has slammed as “nonsensical” the decision to allow the wife of a dead Islamic State fighter and her young child to return to Australia in secret.
But security experts say there’s still much unknown about the woman and her circumstances, while the Muslim Women’s Association says she could have been forced against her will to travel there.
The woman had travelled to the Middle East conflict zone in 2015 with her husband, who later died fighting shortly after their baby was born, The Australian reports.
Australian Conservatives Leader Senator Cory Bernardi has slammed the decision to let the wife of a former IS fighter and her baby to return to Australia. Source: AAP
She was in contact with Australian government officials for months before finally arriving back in Australia last year.
The unnamed woman has since relocated from Sydney to another Australian city, but the decision to allow her and her toddler back into Australia has provoked debate about what should be done with the families of foreign fighters.
It had been illegal for Australians to travel to the 'designated' zone of Raqqa in Syria. That declaration was removed in November 2017.
The travel ban to Mosul in Iraq remains in place, with a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
Senator Bernardi says the woman should have been jailed.
“This person has gone to Islamic State, acted contrary to the interests of Australia, effectively adopted the interests of ISIS, and then wants the protections of the Australian government,” he told Sky News.
“It’s nonsensical.”
RELATED READING
Dutton to push for a rewrite of foreign fighter laws
But experts say it’s too early to make a judgement on whether or not the woman should have been allowed back into Australia.
“It could be that she is an intelligence asset for Australia. We don’t have all the facts yet, it’s still somewhat murky,” Sydney University International Security Studies Professor James Der Derian told SBS News.
“But in general, if she went to fight for ISIS, I think there are good grounds to say she should not have been admitted back.”
Silma Ihram from the Australian Muslim Women’s Association says much is yet to be confirmed about the case, and the woman may have been forced against her will to travel to the conflict zones.
“Sometimes these people really don’t have the option to defy their husbands because they would have been under threat for their own lives by other people they were affiliated with,” Ms Ihram said.
A spokesperson for the Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed to SBS News that a woman and child had returned from a conflict zone in the Middle East.
Silma Ihram from the Australian Muslim Women’s Association. Source: SBS News
The Australian Federal Police was still investigating the mater, the minister said.
“People who have returned to Australia are considered by law enforcement and security agencies on a case-by-case basis,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Authorities believe up to 70 Australian children have been caught up in the former IS warzones.
Deputy Labor Leader Tanya Plibersek says while there is no sympathy for foreign fighters, protecting children should always be a priority.
“These children who have either been taken there against their will or born in a conflict zone they're the victims of child abuse. Their parents have been as reckless as a parent could possibly be.”
The woman is undergoing a deradicalisation program, while police investigations continue.
