Syria
A refugee’s journey from a war zone to helping Australia’s Paralympians
A decade ago, Samer Zakhour was making prosthetics for wounded civilians during the wars in Iraq and Syria. Now, he makes prosthetics for the Australian winter Paralympic team.
- Frances Howe
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- Exclusive
- Islamic State
Sydney doctor’s campaign letter: re-electing Burke the ‘only hope’ of bringing ISIS brides home
In a letter published in the Sydney-based Middle East Times newspaper in April last year, Rifi urged voters in Burke’s electorate of Watson to reject a hardline pro-Palestinian independent campaign to unseat him.
- Paul Sakkal and Michael Bachelard
- Exclusive
- Islamic State
Doctor working to bring home ISIS brides carrying extra passport for ‘lost’ boy jailed in Iraq
In his first public comments, Jamal Rifi, the Sydney doctor organising the families’ return, said the prime minister’s tough talk was “the biggest obstacle”.
- Michael Bachelard and Brittany Busch
Coalition wants to make criminals of anyone helping ISIS brides return to Australia
The Coalition wants laws targeting NGOs and individuals who help people linked to terrorism back into the country.
- Natassia Chrysanthos
Who are the IS brides trying to get home?
Eleven family groups – 34 individuals – who have been stuck in Syrian internment camps for years are trying to make their way home. Why were they in Syria in the first place?
- Michael Bachelard
Albanese declares he has ‘nothing but contempt’ for ISIS brides seeking return
The opposition said not all Australians were entitled to receive a passport, calling for the government to “shut the door” on their attempted return.
- Matthew Knott
‘That was a long way of saying yes’: Tony Burke admits ISIS brides have Australian passports
The home affairs minister earlier confirmed he had used a temporary exclusion order to bar one of the 34 Australian citizens from returning home.
- Michael Bachelard, Brittany Busch, Mohammed Hassan and Alexander Darling
Doctor who helped re-elect Tony Burke leading efforts to bring IS brides back to Australia
The effort to bring back the women and children is being organised by western Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi, who led Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s re-election campaign.
- Michael Bachelard and Matthew Knott
‘Arc de Trump’? The 20 most over-the-top buildings ever constructed
The US president’s proposed monument would join a long and rapidly growing list of structures we could probably do without.
- Chris Moss
- Updated
- Middle East tensions
US launches new retaliatory strikes against Islamic State in Syria
The large-scale strikes, conducted by the US alongside partner forces, occurred around 4.30am on Sunday.