Australia bans a citizen with alleged IS links from returning from Syria
2026/02/20 2 Comments
Clear message by PM Albanese:
…Former Islamic State fighters from multiple countries, their wives and children have been detained in camps since the militant group lost control of its territory in Syria in 2019. Though defeated, the group still has sleeper cells that carry out deadly attacks in both Syria and Iraq.
Australian governments have repatriated Australian women and children from Syrian detention camps on two occasions. Other Australians have also returned without government assistance.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday reiterated his position announced a day earlier that his government would not help repatriate the latest group.
“These are people who chose to go overseas to align themselves with an ideology which is the caliphate, which is a brutal, reactionary ideology and that seeks to undermine and destroy our way of life,” Albanese told reporters.
He was referring to the militants’ capture of wide swaths of land more than a decade ago that stretched across Syria and Iraq, territory where IS established its so-called caliphate. Jihadis from foreign countries traveled to Syria at the time to join the IS. Over the years, they had families and raised children there.
“We are doing nothing to repatriate or to assist these people. I think it’s unfortunate that children are caught up in this, that’s not their decision, but it’s the decision of their parents or their mother,” Albanese added.
Source: Australia bans a citizen with alleged IS links from returning from Syria
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
As far as I can tell, the Government of Canada does not have a similar power to exclude its own citizens. Should it have such a power?
Yes, you’re right. What Canada can and has been doing, is not facilitate the return of these citizens, except for some women and families. Canada also does not revoke citizenship (Harper government did but Liberals reversed). While logically, Canadian government can prosecute any returnees for their involvement in ISIS-related activities, in practice having evidence that would stand up in court is a challenge.