Summary

Thirty-four Australian women and children—wives, widows and offspring of dead or imprisoned Islamic State fighters—were released from the Kurdish-run al-Roj camp and handed to relatives for repatriation, but were forced to return to the camp on Monday after being stopped en route to Damascus. A camp official said the reversal was caused by “poor coordination between their relatives and the Damascus government.” The Guardian reports the repatriation was not organised by the Australian government, it is unclear whether the group had travel documents, and none of the Australians detained in Roj have been charged with crimes prior to any possible return.

The transfers come amid rapidly changing control of northeast Syria and mounting international pressure to repatriate foreign IS-affiliated detainees. Rights groups and the US have warned that dilapidated camps such as Roj are dangerous and risk radicalisation, citing outbreaks of disease, fires, and shortages of fuel and basic services. Australia has repatriated small groups in past years but insists it will not undertake further returns and warns returnees could face prosecution; advocates continue to call for safe, managed pathways home for children and families. as reported by The Guardian