Angus Taylor calls Australian children in Syrian camp 'Isis sympathisers'

Angus Taylor suggested the Australian children remaining in a Syrian detention camp are 'Isis sympathisers' as the Liberal party stepped up criticism of families of dead or jailed Islamic State fighters. He challenged a reporter at a press conference, telling them: 'Either you’re an activist or a journalist, you need to make up your mind.

You need to make up your mind which one you are.' In the same appearance Taylor said the group had 'gone to the Middle East to support Isis' and argued the country should 'shut the door to Isis sympathisers', proposing values- and belief-based tests for entry. Shadow home affairs minister Jonathon Duniam described the under-18 cohort as 'so-called children', saying compassion is important but suggesting, without evidence, that many were closer to adulthood.

The 34 women and children remain in al-Roj detention camp in north-eastern Syria, where conditions are described as 'life threatening'; some of the Australian children were born there and have never left.

Australia, al-Roj

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