The answer, apparently, was the transfer of power from the coalition to the Labor Party in Canberra. Just four months after assuming power, the Albanian government is preparing to launch a highly sensitive rescue mission, which is expected to take place in several phases.
Home Affairs Secretary Claire O’Neill, who oversees national security, gave no indication that anything was afoot during a lengthy interview with Sydney Morning Held And the the age Last month. When asked if she would like to see the women and children returning from Syria, she replied: “I can say that my only focus in this case is the safety of Australians in Australia and this is the publication through which I see this whole case.”
Home Affairs Secretary Claire O’Neill said little about the planned rescue mission.attributed to him:James Brickwood
However, detailed planning was in progress behind the scenes: around this time, ASIO agents visited Camp Rouge to conduct risk assessments, ultimately ending the mission. O’Neill has not publicly confirmed the repatriation mission, but she has not denied it either. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek made an argument for sympathy this week, saying: “Some women, some mothers, were taken there as little more than children and married to ISIS fighters, some were deceived, some were forced to go there.”
While the major parties are trying to adopt a bipartisan position on national security where possible, this has not happened on repatriations. Peter Dutton oversaw the rescue of eight orphaned children from the camps in 2019 as Home Affairs Minister, but opposed bringing anyone else back. He said there was a risk that someone from the camps could cause “mass casualties” in Australia.
Shortly after taking office last March, Karen Andrews examined the issue of repatriation at the request of human rights defenders. “It took the view, on advice, that civil servants going to Syria to undertake any kind of mission to bring these people back to Syria would be too risky,” she says. “Secondly, there were concerns about the issue of extremism, particularly of male children.”
Now a spokeswoman for internal opposition affairs, Andrews’ position remains the same. “I think it is well and good to say that children are not responsible for the actions and behavior of their parents, but I strongly believe that the risks to Australians from returning these people is not one that should be taken by the government.”
Former Home Secretary Karen Andrews said the risks involved in returning Australians from Syria were too high.attributed to him:Alex Ellinghausen
This week’s briefing from ASIO Director General Mike Burgess failed to convince Dutton, who said: “I must say I am more of a belief now that there is a very high risk of bringing some of these people into our country, frankly – not at the level we need to keep Australians safe.”
Former senior security expert and diplomat Neil Fergus said this week he was told of an alleged plot in which a woman in the camps would lure Australian officials to either kill them or take them hostage.
Human rights advocates counter that many other countries – such as the US, the Netherlands and Germany – have successfully pulled hundreds of their citizens out of the camps without incident, as Australia did in 2019.
On the issue of extremism, experts on countering violent extremism argue that the risks involved are manageable. It helps, they say, that many of the children are young and the total number of Australians is small. All involved agree that children will need significant support, including treatment.
“As long as children remain in the camps, they will continue to be exposed to violent extremist recruitment efforts,” says Michelle Grossman, a professor at Deakin University who has studied the issue of repatriation closely.
Australian women and children in Al-Hol camp in 2019.attributed to him:Kate Geraghty
“It makes a lot of sense to bring them back to Australia, where they can receive support and the opportunity to integrate into Australian society.”
However, the issue remains politically explosive, particularly in western Sydney, where many women and children are expected to settle. Cumberland City Council member Steve Christo said he did not want his community to be used as a “prank” for relatives of Islamic State fighters.
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“Hearing news of the possible repatriation of the women and children of ISIS soldiers to western Sydney is deeply distressing to the refugees in Fowler’s communities, many of whom have fled ISIS persecution,” independent MP Dai Lu said.
Women in the camps have offered to voluntarily submit to counter-terrorism orders upon their return to Australia, meaning they may need to wear tracking devices, regularly report to authorities, and be prevented from communicating with certain people. Some women are expected to be charged with terrorist offenses or for entering a restricted area.
Displaying the probation order is not an admission of wrongdoing, al-Daboussi says, but an acknowledgment of community safety concerns.
While he won’t really feel comfortable until Mary and his grandchildren reach Australian soil, he feels real hope for the first time in years. “I have a degree of relief with what’s going on,” he says. “I think it’s already happening.”
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Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
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