A group of Australian “ISIS brides” and children are stuck in Syria because Australia has refused their return, Damascus has claimed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the time, a camp official suggested the families were expected to wait 72 hours before boarding planes to Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“These families are still awaiting a solution, which can only be achieved through coordination with the relevant international parties,” it said.<\/p>\n
The Syrian information ministry understood the families obtained passports through a lawyer and delivered by an “individual” that it would not identify.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes as confusion surrounds the movements of the ISIS-linked women and their families.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The government has repeatedly denied to confirm nor oppose reports the cohort had secured airline tickets to return to Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead, senior officials including the PM and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, have insisted they are not providing official assistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We are providing no support for repatriation and no assistance for these people,” PM Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The press pack in Beijing put reports stemming from the Syrian government to the Foreign Minister after she held bilateral talks with China.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
She said the government had made “its position in relation to these individuals very clear”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We are not assisting in their repatriation.”<\/p>\n
Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It comes as speculation has surrounded the whereabouts of the women and children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some have theorised the cohort fear they could be met with criminal charges upon return to Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n