Returned Australian IS Families Arrested Shortly After Landing
After years detained in Syria, freedom was dramatically short-lived.
Freedom Was Short-Lived
Three Australian women linked to Islamic State were arrested swiftly after landing. A fourth woman faced a media scrum alone. She had small children in tow. She knew she could be next. Australia has eyed their potential return with trepidation for years. The government resisted pressure to bring dozens of citizens home. These are family members of men who fought for IS. They have been in guarded camps since the group lost territorial control in Syria.
Hardened Sentiment After Bondi Attack
Australia is not alone in its reluctance. The UK and others have also wrestled with security and rehabilitation questions. However, sentiment in Australia has hardened. The country is still reeling from its worst terrorist attack. A mass shooting at a Bondi Beach Jewish event in December left 15 dead. The shooter was allegedly inspired by IS. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed contempt for the group. “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it,” he often says. Advocates warn that conditions in Syria are growing more dangerous. They say the need to bring Australians home is more desperate.
