Twelve Australian women are stuck in Syrian refugee camps. Their repatriation trial begins today

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Key FactorsSave the Kids launched a authorized struggle towards the Commonwealth earlier this yr.The case centres round claims the group's detention is illegal.The ladies are all Australian residents. The futures of a dozen ladies and 21 kids desirous to return to Australia from refugee camps in northern Syria can be determined in a Federal Courtroom …

Key Factors

Save the Kids launched a authorized struggle towards the Commonwealth earlier this yr.
The case centres round claims the group’s detention is illegal.
The ladies are all Australian residents.

The futures of a dozen ladies and 21 kids desirous to return to Australia from refugee camps in northern Syria can be determined in a Federal Courtroom trial set to start in Melbourne.

Save the Kids launched a authorized struggle towards the Commonwealth earlier this yr, arguing for the repatriation of the group being detained by the Autonomous Administration of North East Syria and its defence arm, the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The case centres round claims the group’s detention is illegal and questions on why successive federal governments have allowed some ladies and youngsters to return and never others.

The ladies are all Australian residents. One of many kids is now an grownup, whereas others have been born since their moms had been detained.

Three ladies and 5 kids have joined the case since a listening to in June when Save the Kids’s barrister Emrys Nekvapil SC mentioned Syrian authorities needed overseas governments, together with Australia’s, to repatriate residents from the al-Roj camp.

Eight kids had been returned to Australia in 2019 and in October final yr 4 ladies and 13 kids had been repatriated.

“That is an necessary characteristic of our argument as a result of we are saying, in impact, why them and never the rest,” Mr Nekvapil mentioned.

A number of women dressed in black hijabs waiting for supplies outside a Syrian camp. One of the crouched women holds a baby in her arms.

Ladies residents from former Islamic State-held areas in Syria, line up for assist provides at Al-Hol camp in Hassakeh province, Syria. Supply: AP / Maya Alleruzzo

Save the Kids Australia chief govt Mat Tinkler, who visited the camp final yr, accused the federal authorities of abandoning the ladies and youngsters.

“Regardless of numerous alternatives to repatriate these households, the Australian authorities has finally failed in its obligation to carry all of its residents dwelling to security,” he mentioned.

“The federal government can’t enable these harmless kids to endure additional – they need to do what’s legally and morally proper, earlier than it is too late.

“Each Mr Nekvapil and the Commonwealth’s barrister Craig Lenehan SC had pushed for the trial to go forward in September, citing the potential destabilisation of the scenario in Syria.

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