The Australian government announced Wednesday it has activated seldom-used anti-terrorism legislation to block one of its own citizens from returning home from a Syrian detention facility.
The citizen is part of a group of 34 Australians currently detained at a northern Syrian camp that houses families connected to suspected ISIS fighters. Camp officials had given conditional approval for the group’s release, but their attempt to leave on Monday was unsuccessful when Syrian authorities rejected them due to insufficient documentation.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the government’s action in a Wednesday statement, saying the temporary exclusion order was implemented based on recommendations from security officials.
“I can confirm that one individual in this cohort has been issued a temporary exclusion order, which was made on advice from security agencies,” Burke stated.
Burke noted that security officials have not yet determined that other group members warrant similar restrictions.
The 2019 legislation permits the government to ban Australian citizens aged 14 and older from entering the country for up to two years if they are deemed a security threat.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the situation Wednesday, noting that some group members, which includes minors, had embraced what he called a “brutal, reactionary ideology and that seeks to undermine and destroy our way of life.”
“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 commented.
The Australian government has previously stated it will not offer assistance to individuals detained in the camp and is conducting security assessments to determine if any pose national security risks.
The potential homecoming of these families has sparked debate across Australia, coinciding with rising support for the anti-immigration One Nation party in recent months.
Recent polling data shows One Nation has reached a historic 26% share of popular support, surpassing the combined backing for the traditional center-right opposition coalition.
