Citizenship as a Suggestion: Canberra Leaves the Kids in the Camp

SMH · Abby Sewell · Wednesday 29 April 2026

Citizenship as a Suggestion: Canberra Leaves the Kids in the Camp

Syrian officials say Australian women and children linked to IS families had flights to Damascus but were blocked from boarding after Canberra refused to facilitate their return.

Syrian officials say the women had flights booked and Canberra pulled the rug. Three years of 'we're working on it' and the answer turns out to be 'we're not.' The kids didn't choose the camp, didn't choose the parents, didn't choose the passport — but they've been issued the sentence anyway. Citizenship's a contract until it's politically inconvenient, and then it's a suggestion.

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