Canberra — The Albanese government faces mounting criticism over its selective approach to repatriating Australians detained in Syria, with human rights advocates arguing citizenship rights should apply universally—not just to those deemed "worthy," The Guardian reports.
The case involves ISIS family members, including women and children, held in detention camps in northeast Syria since the collapse of the Islamic State's so-called caliphate. Some have Australian citizenship. The question is whether Canberra has an obligation to bring them home.
This cuts to fundamental questions about citizenship and rights. Are Australians in Syria less deserving of consular help because of their associations with a terrorist organization? Or do citizenship rights apply regardless of individual circumstances?
The government's caught between competing pressures. Security agencies warn that repatriating ISIS-linked individuals poses risks. Human rights groups counter that children born in conflict zones shouldn't be punished for their parents' choices, and that leaving Australian citizens stateless in Syrian camps violates international law.
Several Western countries have grappled with the same dilemma. France, Britain, and Germany have conducted limited repatriations, typically focusing on children while leaving adult women in detention. Australia has been particularly reluctant, bringing back only a handful of children in isolated cases.
Critics argue this selective approach effectively creates two classes of citizenship: those whose rights are protected, and those who can be abandoned based on government judgment of their worthiness. That's a dangerous precedent.
The government's position is that citizenship comes with responsibilities, and those who aligned with ISIS betrayed Australia. Fair enough. But their children didn't make that choice, and leaving kids in Syrian detention camps—without education, healthcare, or security—isn't justice. It's collective punishment.
Legal experts say Australia has consular obligations toward its citizens, even those accused of serious crimes. The proper venue for dealing with alleged criminal conduct is Australian courts, not indefinite detention in foreign camps.
Mate, citizenship isn't conditional. Either it means something—including the right to return home and face justice under Australian law—or it's just a piece of paper the government can revoke when convenient. That's not a principle worth defending.
