By Micah Jonah
February 17, 2026
Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has announced that his government will not repatriate Australian women and children identified as relatives of suspected ISIL fighters currently held in Syria’s Roj detention camp.
Speaking to ABC News, Albanese said Australia “will not be providing assistance or repatriation” to these individuals. While acknowledging that children are affected, he stated that the government has no sympathy for those who traveled overseas to join efforts to establish a caliphate, “undermine and destroy our way of life.”
A total of 34 Australian women and children from 11 families were released from the Kurdish-controlled Roj camp on Monday and were initially en route to Damascus for repatriation. However, they were returned to the camp due to a lack of permission to enter government-controlled areas. Kurdish camp officials confirmed that the families’ representatives are still negotiating with Syrian authorities.
The Australian government has also warned that any individuals returning from Syria who have committed crimes will face prosecution.
Humanitarian groups, including Save the Children Australia, have previously filed lawsuits seeking the repatriation of Australian nationals from Syrian camps, citing a moral and legal responsibility to protect citizens. Courts have ruled against these efforts, noting that the Australian government does not control the detention facilities.
Security analysts say public sentiment in Australia, particularly after the deadly Bondi Beach attack in December 2025, contributes to strong resistance to repatriation, with concerns that returning individuals may retain radical beliefs.
The Roj camp continues to house foreign nationals, including high-profile cases like UK-born Shamima Begum, who has challenged citizenship revocation while remaining in detention.
Australia remains among several countries resisting the return of nationals associated with ISIL from camps in Syria.
