Australia Rejects Repatriating Its Nationals from ISIS Fighters’ Families Despite U.S. Offer

The Australian government has rejected the repatriation of its nationals currently in camps in north and east Syria, despite a U.S. offer to transport them and issue temporary travel documents, according to The Guardian. Estimates indicate that around 40 Australians are in the camps, most of them children.

The newspaper reported that U.S. officials warned that keeping these individuals in the camps administered by the Syrian Democratic Forces “increases the level of risk for everyone,” amid reports of growing signs of “militarization and radicalization” inside the camps, particularly al-Hol and Roj.

During an official meeting with activists, Australian Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke said that the government “has no current plan” to repatriate the remaining women and children, despite the United States expressing willingness to facilitate their transfer on the condition that passports or official documents be issued for them.

According to humanitarian organizations that took part in a meeting held last June at the minister’s office, the Syrian Democratic Forces expressed readiness to allow their departure if the Australian government provided the necessary guarantees. However, Burke confirmed, as cited by the newspaper, that the option of repatriation “is not on the table at the moment.”

Members of these families do not currently face any official charges, although some of them may be subject to legal accountability if returned to Australia.