Minister Morrison visiting the family of four Jihadists

(Translation of this article appears in Arabic section)

24/11/2014

Sydney: Press sources reported today, that the Federal Immigration Minister Scott Morrison MP accompanied by dr. Jamal Rifi visited last Thursday, the family of the four brothers who left Sydney to join the organization of the Islamic State (IS). Morrison's visit lasted 45 minutes, during which he briefed on the family situation..

Earlier, a news report mentioned  about the travel of the four brothers from one family to Turkey and then to move to Syria and Iraq.

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Fears Sydney brothers believed to be in Syria will be used for propaganda

The World Today

By Louise Crealy

17 Nov 2014,

Photo: A friend of the brothers' family said two of the brothers are unlikely to be used as foot soldiers. (Reuters: Yaser Al-Khodor)

A family friend of four Sydney brothers believed to have joined Islamic State (IS) said they fear two of the brothers are too overweight to fight and will be used by the terrorist group for propaganda.

There has been no further contact with the four brothers believed to have travelled to Syria via Turkey.

They were initially thought to be on holiday in Thailand.

Last week they sent their mother a text message which said they would see her in "paradise".

The text message read: "We made it to Bilad al-Sham, we will see you in Paradise".

Aged 17, 23, 25 and 28, the youngest brother is still in school.

A friend of the family and community leader, Dr Jamal Rifi, said the family were devastated, desperate for answers and hoped the Federal Government could bring the brothers home safely.

Dr Rifi said their actions were totally out of character and the four would not make good fighters.

"We don't know what's happening with them, where they are and why they're not answering," Dr Rifi said.

Fears brothers will be used as propaganda

He said two of the brothers are unlikely to be used as foot soldiers, as they weigh around 130 or 140 kilograms each.

"They're quite large boys ... they're not good foot soldiers or anything, but they'll probably be used for propaganda videos, same as others unfortunately," he said.

The men have no known criminal connections.

Dr Rifi said the brothers' family were desperately hoping they would be found safely and convinced to return home.

"Even if they crossed into Syria it doesn't mean they have made contact with IS," he said.

"We just hope they realise the mistake of what they've done."

If they have crossed into Syria we're also relying on the commonsense of these boys to realise it is not the adventure they were looking for and it is an illusion.

Dr Jamal Rifi

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has been working with the brothers' family and has offered to meet them.

But Mr Morrison told Macquarie Radio the boys have put themselves in an impossible situation.

"The real truth is once they cross that line and they go to fight with the death cult they become Australia's enemies and they become the world's enemies and will have to face the consequences of their actions," Mr Morrison said.

"It's a terrible thing."

The brothers were last seen in Turkey but are now believed to have crossed the Syrian border.

Mr Morrison said the Government is trying to discover how the men were radicalised.

Dr Rifi said the family's hopes now rest with the Government.

"If they have crossed into Syria we're also relying on the commonsense of these boys to realise it is not the adventure they were looking for and it is an illusion," he said.