The final Australian woman held in a Syrian camp designated for families of Islamic State group fighters has received approval to return to Australia, subject to strict oversight. The 29-year-old former Sydney resident and her nine-year-old daughter are expected to return to Australia.
Their planned return in February with a group of other Australian women and children from the Roj camp was initially blocked by a temporary exclusion order. Australia introduced these orders in 2019 to prohibit defeated IS fighters from returning to the country for up to two years, with this woman being the sole known individual targeted by such an order.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated Thursday that the government could no longer legally prevent the woman's return after her legal team applied for a permit. Australian Federal Police have been investigating the conduct of Australians who traveled to regions where IS established its caliphate since 2015. The woman was 18 when she departed Sydney for Syria in 2015.
Upon arrival, police and security agencies will implement rigorous conditions. These include mandatory reporting of her place of residence, employment, studies, and planned travel destinations. Additionally, the woman must provide 24 hours' notice before utilizing any telecommunications, including public phones or any form of social media. Burke indicated this ensures a "very high level of scrutiny and surveillance" and that the government has "gone absolutely to the legal limit that we're able to."
It remains unclear if the woman will face arrest upon her return. This follows the May 7 arrival of three other women and nine children, four of whom were arrested and charged with terrorism and slavery offenses, and subsequently denied bail. Opposition lawmakers have voiced criticism, suggesting the government should have amended the law to prevent her return. The government had issued the exclusion order on national security grounds, though specifics were not disclosed.