A group of Australian “ISIS brides” and children are stuck in Syria because Australia has refused their return, Damascus has claimed.
Four Australian women and nine children left the al-Roj detention camp in northeastern Syria last week and reportedly completed a more than 500km journey to Damascus with intentions to fly home to Australia.
At the time, a camp official suggested the families were expected to wait 72 hours before boarding planes to Australia.
In response to an inquiry about the women’s current status, the Syrian ministry of information said foreign affairs officials were informed Australia would not take the women.
The foreign minister was informed “the Australian government had refused to receive them” after the families first left the camp, the information ministry told AP.
“These families are still awaiting a solution, which can only be achieved through coordination with the relevant international parties,” it said.
The Syrian information ministry understood the families obtained passports through a lawyer and delivered by an “individual” that it would not identify.
It comes as confusion surrounds the movements of the ISIS-linked women and their families.
The government has repeatedly denied to confirm nor oppose reports the cohort had secured airline tickets to return to Australia.
Instead, senior officials including the PM and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have insisted they are not providing official assistance.
“We are providing no support for repatriation and no assistance for these people,” PM Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.
The press pack in Beijing put reports stemming from the Syrian government to the Foreign Minister after she held bilateral talks with China.
She was asked if there was “any possibility” the Australia government was going to allow the women and children to come back or if they would remain “indefinitely” in Syria.
She said the government had made “its position in relation to these individuals very clear”.
“We are not assisting in their repatriation.”
Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.
It comes as speculation has surrounded the whereabouts of the women and children.
The cohort has reportedly secured documentation to travel including air-tickets, although it is not known when they planned arrive. The government has refused to confirm any possible travel plans.
Some have theorised the cohort fear they could be met with criminal charges upon return to Australia.
Sky News Australia revealed this week authorities expected to arrest two of the ISIS-brides when they landed in Australia.