| AFIC Calls on Government to Repatriate Australian Women and Children from Syrian Camps |
** AFIC President Dr Rateb Jneid- “If they are Australian, then Australia has an obligation to bring them home and deal with them under its own laws.”
|
AFIC Calls on Government to Repatriate Australian Women and Children from Syrian Camps
27/04/2026
(See translation in Arabic section)
Sydney-Middle East Times Int'l: The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) is calling on the Australian Government to take immediate steps to facilitate the return of Australian women and children currently held in detention camps in Syria.
These individuals are Australian citizens. That carries both rights and responsibilities. If any individual has committed an offence under Australian law, they should be brought home, charged where appropriate, and dealt with through the legal system. What cannot be justified is leaving Australian citizens in indefinite detention in dangerous and unstable conditions overseas.
“This is ultimately a question of principle,” said AFIC President Dr Rateb Jneid. “If they are Australian, then Australia has an obligation to bring them home and deal with them under its own laws.”
Particular concern must be given to the children. They are innocent of any wrongdoing and have already endured years of conflict, displacement and trauma. Australia has a fundamental obligation to protect its children, wherever they are. To knowingly leave them in unsafe and degrading conditions is a failure not just of policy, but of principle
The issue should not be driven by political considerations or public pressure, but by a consistent application of legal and humanitarian principles. There is no basis for treating these individuals differently from other Australian citizens. The rule of law requires that allegations be tested in court, not assumed or outsourced.
Australia has the capacity to manage this process safely and responsibly, including through appropriate legal, security and rehabilitation frameworks.
AFIC urged the government to act decisively and to bring an end to a situation that has already been prolonged for too long.
Delaying action does not resolve the issue. It only compounds the human cost. ________________________________________
AFIC, established in 1964, stands as the Peak Muslim Organisation in Australia, with 170 members including 9 State and Territory Councils. It has a rich history of pioneering numerous community services and actively advocating for the rights and representation of the Muslim community.
Authorised:
Dr Rateb Jneid, President
|
