Australians Fighting in Syria

[Neferti]

What do you think about this?

Scott Morrison flags block on Australians returning home after fighting in Syria

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says he expects there would be bipartisan support for any move to block Australians who have been fighting in Syria from returning to this country.

Spy agency ASIO says about 200 Australians have taken up arms in the Syrian civil war.

Former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr says that while in government, he sought advice on how to block Australian citizens from returning home after fighting in Syria, but was told it could not legally be done.

He has urged the current government to revisit the idea.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-28/m ... ia/5050118

[Super Nova]

Don't block them. They are Australian citizens and they need a place or they will roam the earth without a country. It should be a crime and on their return they should be subject to the law.

Stopping them coming home may build a resentment towards Australia. The last thing we need.

[Neferti]

If Used Carr thinks it is a good idea, it probably isn't. I agree that it should be considered a crime, but how to handle it? Who knows. We certainly don't want Muslims hating us any more than they already do.

[Super Nova]

If Used Carr thinks it is a good idea, it probably isn't. I agree that it should be considered a crime, but how to handle it? Who knows. We certainly don't want Muslims hating us any more than they already do.

Well the real problem is I don't think there is a law that prevents nationals from participating in Wars we have not chosen a side on. That is, they are not fighting for the enemy. Australia is not at war.

So I don't think there is a legal basis to stop them coming home. Unless they are fighting with what our "state" declares as the enemy I don't see what can be done.

It is a mistake to make them stateless. Then we are just pushing our problems onto others. We need to look after our own citizens and be responsible for them. If they commit a crime deal with them. Show some leadership. Do you think the US would do this. No way... let them come home and they will deal with them. ASIO needs to have a place in this solution.

[Super Nova]

Maybe they could use their school photos to track their history back and use that as evidence.

[Rorschach]

Don't block them. They are Australian citizens and they need a place or they will roam the earth without a country. It should be a crime and on their return they should be subject to the law.

Stopping them coming home may build a resentment towards Australia. The last thing we need.

they've got dual passports... let then stay and fight for their country. We don't need them or want them.

[boxy]

If Used Carr thinks it is a good idea, it probably isn't. I agree that it should be considered a crime, but how to handle it? Who knows. We certainly don't want Muslims hating us any more than they already do.

Well the real problem is I don't think there is a law that prevents nationals from participating in Wars we have not chosen a side on. That is, they are not fighting for the enemy. Australia is not at war.

How have we treated Australian mercenaries in previous conflicts that we arn't involved in?

[mantra]

If Used Carr thinks it is a good idea, it probably isn't. I agree that it should be considered a crime, but how to handle it? Who knows. We certainly don't want Muslims hating us any more than they already do.

Well the real problem is I don't think there is a law that prevents nationals from participating in Wars we have not chosen a side on. That is, they are not fighting for the enemy. Australia is not at war.

How have we treated Australian mercenaries in previous conflicts that we arn't involved in?

We can thank John Howard for legislating that dual citizenship be given to any man and his dog. This wouldn't be happening if most of these migrants were only allowed Australian citizenship. Of course they're going to take off every time there's a conflict in their home country. The same happened in the invasion of Lebanon by Israel. We had the Jews going home to Israel to join up with the IDF - and the Lebanese returning to Lebanon to fight the IDF.

There was no punishment to my recollection.

[Neferti]

Dual citizenship

It is possible to hold citizenship of two or more countries if the law of those countries allow. This is known as dual, or multiple, citizenship.

People can become dual citizens automatically, or after being granted citizenship of another country.

For example, an Australian citizen may automatically gain citizenship of another country through marriage, while a permanent resident of Australia may become a dual citizen by becoming an Australian citizen.

Prior to 4 April 2002, Australian citizens who became citizens of another country lost their Australian citizenship automatically.

Yes, but it works both ways. I recall being appalled to think that if I had married an American I would have automatically lost my Australian Passport. http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/dual_citizenship/

[mantra]

I don't think the US generally recognises dual citizenship even today, with the exception of the American/Israelis. The US would be highly unlikely to allow others for example - Iranians, Iraqi's etc. to fight wars overseas and then return at their leisure the way we do, unless they had special dispensation because they were Jewish.

Carr did have the right idea about blocking these people on their return. Why isn't it legal? Perhaps because in Australia you can't punish one group of people and not another. Few nations would be as generous as us.