Waleed Aly goes head-to-head with mayor calling for IS brides’ citizenships to be revoked
Waleed Aly has gone head-to-head with a mayor from western Sydney who slammed the government’s decision to resettle the repatriated brides and their children in the area.
The Project co-host was speaking to disappointed Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who questioned why western Sydney was the “dumping ground” for the women and their children.
Mr Carbone explained that members of the community have gotten in touch with him expressing deep concerns over the decision, particularly those who escaped Syria from the terrorist IS group.
“I don't think he [the prime minister] has taken into account the tens of thousands of refugees that fled their home, had their homes burnt back in Syria, have lost their loved ones, have watched a lot of their families be beheaded and burnt, and have come and resettled in Western Sydney,” Mr Carbone began.
He argued that Syrians who helped the Australian army fight IS terrorists were more “Australian citizens than anyone else” before he was cut off by Waleed.
“Legally they're not, Australian citizens are a different category. We have obligations to Australian citizens that we don't have to refugees,” he pointed out.
Mr Carbone did not accept the excuse, saying the IS brides committed treason under the “Commonwealth criminal code section 80” and should have their citizenships revoked.
“Treason is when you leave your country and you aide and abet, doesn't matter if you're baking a cake or scones and assisting ISIS, you're committing treason,” he said.
“Under that act, you can have your citizenship revoked.”
Waleed then pointed out that the brides would have to be convicted first to have their citizenship revoked and “that hasn’t happened”.
“You're talking a lot about kids here, in fact mostly about kids. Would you leave kids in camps overseas when they are Australian citizens?” he asked.
Mr Carbone did not hesitate when he continued addressing the people’s concerns as to why Western Sydney was the dumping ground.
“Why is it Western Sydney? Why is it Western Sydney when we have tens of thousands of people that fled ISIS?” he said.
“Australia is a big country, they [ISIS families] don't necessarily have to be in Western Sydney.”
His comments come just a day after Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss made the same accusation about their area being the dumping ground.
Australia repatriated four women and their 13 children after being stuck in al-Hol and al-Roj camps in the northeastern Syria region since 2019.
It is expected more women and children will follow in the next few weeks.
Images: The Project