ISIS brides still stuck in Syria, Middle East, may sue Australian Government alleging detainment
ISIS brides still trapped in Middle East launch legal action over Australian government’s ‘broken promise’ to take them home
- Australian ISIS brides could take action against the government
- There are still about 40 women and their children in Syria
- They have a team of lawyers who say they are being ‘held’
The remaining ISIS brides trapped in northeastern Syria are seeking legal action against the Australian government for keeping them in the dark.
About 40 women, many of whom had their Australian passports taken away after traveling to ISIS-controlled Syria, and their children, who are legal Australian citizens, say they feel let down by the government.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese brought home the first batch of “ISIS brides” last year and promised to return the rest in later batches.
however, the Saturday Telegraph revealed that almost seven months later no plans have been made for the resettlement of the remaining women.
About 20 Australian children and their mothers trapped in Syria are seeking legal action against the Australian government (pictured, al-Hol camp in Syria)
Shayma Assaad, her mother Bessima Assaad, Mariam Dabboussy and Mariam Raad and their 13 children returned to Australia last year under a cloud of controversy.
One of their relatives now claims they see the government’s inaction for the remaining women as a “broken promise.”
“(The government) has indicated that they want to bring them back, but without giving any timeline, because now is ‘not a good time,'” they said.
A team of lawyers, with the help of Save The Children, are trying to help 20 of the children still detained in Syria, as well as their mothers, file an Australian High Court case.
The case will allege the women are being ‘detained’ by the Australian government which has failed to bring them home from Syria.
If the case goes to court, the women must return to Australia to appear.
Among the women yet to be returned to Australia is Nesrine Zahab (above), whose extremist cousin, Muhammad Zahab, is said to have lured the majority of women to Syria
“We have assembled a high caliber legal team to prepare an application for writ of habeas corpus on behalf of these Australians who have now been detained for more than four years,” said Mat Tinkler, CEO of Save The Children, to the Telegraph. .
Save the Children has encouraged the Australian Government at every possible opportunity to bring home the remaining Australians and has tried to avoid legal action.
“However, families have become increasingly desperate as the risks to the health and safety of their children are increasing every day. While litigation is a last resort, continued government inaction means the case is now imminent.”
Similar legal battles have been launched in America and India.
Among the women who have yet to return to Australia is Nesrine Zahab whose extremist cousin, Muhammad Zahab, is said to have lured the majority of women to Syria.
Nesrine said in 2019 that after arriving in Syria she was forced to marry Sydney-born ISIS fighter Ahmed Merhi.