"It is disgusting that politicians are seeking to make political mileage out of this."
Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, has condemned the political debate surrounding the potential return of 13 women and children with alleged Islamic State links to Australia, calling the discourse "disgusting" and an "Islamophobic free for all."
"I am not a defender of them but I am a defender of the rule of law," Kheir stated. He argued that if the individuals are found guilty, they should be jailed, but as Australian citizens, the law should apply equally to them, and they hold a right to return.
Kheir emphasized that the children stranded in camps in northern Syria bore no responsibility for their situation and deserve rehabilitation and a new life in Australia.
He criticized politicians for seeking political advantage from the issue, describing the overall debate as an "Islamophobic free for all."