Muslim leader defends ISIS brides' return to Australia - and issues blunt message to those who say they should not be allowed back: 'Everything else is irrelevant'

By CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER Published: 01:32, 8 May 2026 | Updated: 01:32, 8 May 2026 A prominent Sydney lawyer has defended the return of ISIS brides to Australia, arguing the public should not 'condemn' innocent children, or their mothers, because of the atrocities committed by Islamic State in Syria.  Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir, a 56-year-old conveyancer for Bankstown firm Kheir Lawyers, said the women are entitled to return because they are Australian citizens. He said that because the women are Australian citizens, they are entitled to return and face the law, adding: 'everything else is irrelevant.'  'I am no defender of these individuals. I am no defender of ISIS. If they are guilty of breaking Australian law, charge them,' he said. 'But I value that there is an independent and trusted legal process. I don't care what the government does or doesn't do, I care even less what the Opposition thinks. 'We the Muslim community are constantly told we are not assimilating, but we are saying do not bow to political pressure.' However, the lawyer questioned the morality of those criticising the return of the young children, who, he said, should not be tarnished by their parents' choices. A group of 13 women and children tied to ISIS have arrived in Australia  Lebanese Muslim Association secretary Gamel Kheir (pictured) has told politicians to stay out of the issue, adding that the legal process should be allowed to take its course 'My question to your readers, what sin are these children guilty of? Do we want to abandon children?' he said. 'We don't abandon children. We don't say (they are to blame) when their parents made that decision. That is disgusting logic. 'I would argue that way more Muslims have been victims of this ISIS scourge. It has affected my brothers and sisters in Syria and Lebanon, but I will not let that sway what I hold sacrosanct: that I believe in justice, and I believe in morality. 'The children deserve to be rehabilitated, repatriated and reintroduced to society.' Mr Kheir added that, as a collective, Australians should not 'condemn' children and their mothers because 'we don't like what ISIS did in Syria'. Many of the women have spoken about being tricked into living in Syria, with some experts suggesting recruiters painted a utopian view of life with the terrorist group. Mr Kheir told politicians to stay out of politicising the return of the ISIS brides. 'Politicians are foaming at the mouth, Pauline Hanson is rubbing her hands together. (But) they must stay out of it and leave it to a judge,' he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his government have continued to insist that they have not supported the group's return to Australia. Meanwhile, both Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson have expressed their fury at the cohort's imminent return. 'We are fools, absolutely fools. I wouldn't have them anywhere near this place,' Hanson told Sky News Australia. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.