The Increased Number of Returning Foreign Fighters and the Challenges for National and International Security

This essay discusses the challenges posed by the increased number of returning foreign fighters to national and international security. It explores the risks they present, including participation in violence and planning future attacks. The essay also highlights the need for proper measures to address this issue and the impact on home-coming countries. The presence of female foreign fighters and the role they play in terrorist movements is also examined. The essay concludes by discussing Australia's efforts to deal with the threats posed by returning foreign fighters.

Running head: ESSAY 0
SOCIOLOGY
OCTOBER 2, 2019
STUDENT DETAILS:

ESSAY 1
The increased number of returning foreign fighters signifies the issue for national security as
well as international security. In addition, the improved number of terrorist acts also presents the
challenges for security of nations worldwide. The returning foreign terrorist fighters can have
been uncovered to each facet of violent radical philosophy along with way of life. Many of them
learned fighting experience. They can have participated in violence. Additionally, many of them
have entered into the group and network, which plan upcoming attack in domestic nations and
other nations. On the other hand, other returning foreign fighters can be disturbed and need
medical attention. In the present time, the occurrence of foreign fighters has expanded
everywhere in the world, particularly in relation to the enduring conflict in Australia. In the
following parts, the significant danger experienced by foreign fighters to the home-coming
countries is discussed and critically examined.
Foreign terrorist fighters are described as “the people who travel to the state except the resident
state for a motive of enactment, arrangement or scheduling of terrorist act or the rendering and
getting of the terrorist training, involving related to armed conflict.” The foreign terrorist fighters
enhance the awareness, difficulty, as well as period of conflicts. They can create the severe risk
to the state of origin, and nearest zone of armed conflict where they are active. A threat of
foreign terrorist fighters is rapidly developing (Speckhard and Shajkovci, 2018). It is unlikely to
be completely controlled in short period. The important long-term risk is created by foreign
terrorist fighters coming back to origin countries or on the arrival in third nations. Additionally,
in developing nations as well as developed nations, the huge number of young persons are
considering travelling to the zones wherever own security will be at danger. The departure of
various young people to conflict zones has profoundly destabilizing effect on societies and
families. For attracting the people to causes, states of Iraq as well as Levant abuses socio-
economic complaints and approaches of disaffection, disparity as well as feelings of unfairness
(Boutin, et. al, 2016).
Further, the female foreign terrorist fighters are often considered from a viewpoint of inherent
gender typecast. The predictable sight is that males are less likely to females for involving into
terrorism. However, the experience of different Member provides advice of different image. In
Australia, the intensity of suicide attacks including females has been improved. The females has

ESSAY 2
important role in terrorist movement (Speckhard, Shajkovci and Yayla, 2018). The present level
of participation in committing terrorism actions and vicious radicalism requires significantly
more thoughtful as well as critical inspection. The immense flow of immigrants from conflict
zones also enhances the danger, which will be attempted by foreign terrorist fighters to utilise
immigrant system to discharge prosecution. By taking the consultation of United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, the states must develop proper process for providing refugee status
to qualified migrants as well as keep out individuals who do not deserve the international
security according to the 1951 Convention in relation to Status of Immigrants. Terrorist
organizations also get the advantages in a form of donation provided by the returning foreign
fighters or in a form of payments made by different people to free foreign terrorist fighters from
the conflict areas (Rostami, et. al, 2018).
The outlook of home coming foreign fighters for carrying out attack in particular motherlands is
neither undeviating nor certain. This is very complex to create difference between the people
who would involve in terrorism on the return and the people who would not. Nevertheless,
returning fighters are troublesome to the own nations. Many of them observe the respective
nations as being unreceptive to Islam and Muslim in general. At present, there is contradictory
report in relation to the people of Australia fighting in Iraq as well as Syria. In June 2018, it is
stated by Julie Bishop (Foreign Minister) that one hundred fifty people of Australia are or have
been. In December 2018, it is said by George Brandis (Attorney-General) that twenty people of
Australia had been murdered. More broadly, up to eleven thousand fighters have entered into
conflict in Syria, with approximately three thousand Westerners amongst them. It can see that
2014 saw foremost development relating to conventionally smaller jihadist community of
Australia. Three alleged Islamist activists made attack on Charlie Hebdo. This is argued
that threats posed by home-coming jihadists are very critical. It is key concern for Australia. The
Australians fights in foreign conflict are old experience. The people of Australia fought in all
sides of War of Independence in Israel in 1948, Spanish Civil War in year 1930, along with
Soviet occupation in Afghanistan in 1980. The main difference is documented risk made by
foreign fighter in theatre of jihadism on the come back to home. While George Orwell
penned Homage to Catalonia after combating oppression in Spain, well-known persons such as
Khaleed Sharrouf would possibly not come back to home, after beheading prisoner with Iraq and
al-Sham.

ESSAY 3
The presence of Australian fighters abroad as well as fear stated by them is not completely
different to a nation. As classified by Andrew Zammit, the people of Australia have fought in
various conflicts in previous periods. From year 1998 to year 2000, about 20 people of Australia
skilled with Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan as well as Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. From year 2002 to
2012, about 60 people were caught in Australia (Dawson, 2017). They were charged in absentia
in Lebanon for alleged jihadist functions with Asbat Al-Ansar along with Fatah Al-Islam.
Furthermore, in year 2000, about 40 people of Australia went to Somalia for fighting for Al
Shabaab. They went there for joining the jihadist group in Yemen. For the example, Hamdi
Alqudsi is one of several Australians who have been found to run exclusive, refined, and illegal
methods to send young people of Australia to fight in Syria. Hamdi Alqudsi was arrested after
the investigation of four months. The conflict in Iraq as well as different places in the Middle
East is progressively affecting the country and residents of Australia (Van Ostaeyen and Van
Vlierden, 2018).
This is found that because of failure of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Australia has made
attempt for dealing with increasing threats of coming back foreign fighters over a law of the new
tranche of central protection law. It would consider the people of Australia with alleged overseas
related to violence excluded from ingoing a nation for upto 2 years. It can see that the Morrison
government effectively enacted the Counter Terrorism Bill 2019 (Grossman and Barolsky,
2019). The Counter Terrorism Bill 2019 provides home-affairs minister the powers of blocking
the residents of Australia over the fourteen years with distrusted terrorism connection from
coming back to Australia for 2 years. As per modern laws, the home minister may render
Temporary Exclusion Order in case of suspicion over rational ground that the person will look
for support and render help to the terrorist entity. It is also specified by the law that the
Temporary Exclusion Order may be provided if Australian Security Intelligence Organization
supposes the person of being direct or indirect threat to protection intended for “reason related to
administratively encouraged viciousness.”Furthermore, once a person has fulfilled the exclusion
order of 2 years, he or she may then implement for the “return permit’ that is permitted by home
minister. In case of permission, the person will be subjected to strict evaluation after come back,
involving concession of passport as well as strict reviewing as well as surveillance by the
security organisations of Australia (Zimmat, 2015).

ESSAY 4
The security concern of Australia are also depended on a scope of past jihadist activities in a
nation. The LeT plot in Sydney in 2003, Al Qaeda plot in Sydney in Olympics 2000, and 2 cells
in Sydney and Melbourne were disrupted in 2005, all included people who were skilled in Al
Qaeda and LeT camps in Pakistan and Afghanistan in end of year 1990 and 2000. The plot for
carrying out the mass shooting in against of Holsworthy Army Barracks in year 2009 included
Muslims from Melbourne who had worked as the supportive network for Al Shabaab (jawaid,
2017). They had also forwarded others to be skilled and fight in Somalia. Provided the higher
level of Syrian mobilisation, this has potential to have higher influence upon the threat of
domestic protection. In addition, there is the threat from smaller local cell of radicals and lone
wolves who are affected through jihadist functions in Syria. As stated, Islamic State of Iraq and
Syria is affecting lone-wolf attack in the Western nations. In this way, it is very important
protection concern by itself performances are remarkably problematic to notice as well as avert.
The Muslim groups of Syria and Iraq conflicts have also taken problem of sectarianism as well
as recognise to the forefront amongst people of Australia, adversely affecting central peace as
well as protection. There has been rare occurrence of communal violence between Australian
Shia and Sunnias 2012. For instance, the areas in Sydney like Greenacre and Lakemba have
become ‘no go’ areas for Shia groups (Heinke, 2017).
The government of Australia continues to assess relisting of terrorism entities as per Criminal
Code Act 1995 (Cth). By noting Jabhat-al-Nusra, Islamic States as well as ISIL, this is crime for
directing functions of, enlists for, trains for as well as receives educating from the entities. This
reporting creates it the crime to render assistance to the members of JN, ISIL or IS. These crimes
entice the penalty of imprisonment for upto twenty-five years. Additionally, the AFP has
knowledge about the people who continuously travel to the conflict places, mainly Iraq and Syria
at this period, to involve in armed conflicts. In addition, this is highly concerned about increasing
number of people of Australia with hand-on terrorist experiences. It is in spite of the sanction
regime forced by government of Australia in efforts for limiting the level of Syrian conflicts. The
authorisations make crimes under Australian law to involve fighting on one conflict’s side, to
train as well as recruit the people to fight in conflicts and to supply the weapons for any side of
conflict (Reed and Pohl, 2017).

ESSAY 5
Besides, there are numerous elements for higher level of involvement of Australian Muslims in
Syria. The Syrian conflict has made extensive crime amongst Muslim groups. It has rendered the
chance for jihadist groups like ISIS as well as Jabhat Al-Nusra of Al Qaeda to represent himself
as defender of Sunni Muslim groups (Borum, 2017). In Australia, it is believed by jihadist
supporters that West is waging a war against Islam. Further, these terrorist communities like AQ
as well as ISIS are performing in the protection of Islam. Actually, certain Muslims of Australia
who have gone to fight in Syria have no Syrian origin. Many are not culturally Arabic (Cragin,
2017). There is no connection to conflict excepting for a faith that they have the religious
recognition with the fighting communities. Certainly, the Muslim groups of Australia who join
terrorist entities in Syria can be dissatisfied, ‘aimless’ people missing the sense of recognition.
Because of the search for the great sense of meaning and objective in the lives, they have become
susceptible to jihadist account. As a final point, there are individuals as well as communities who
suppose that the terrorist attacks in Australia are justified because of military deployments of
Australia (such as in Iraq as well as Afghanistan). For the reason that they believe that, the
culture of Australia is in direct conflict with the fundamental clarification of Islam. Even so, the
Syrian conflicts have resulted into deployment of fighters of Australia on the level not
considered in past. However, this is critical to enumerate precisely. The Australian Security
Intelligence Organisation reports to the parliament for year 2012-2013 estimates that the number
of people of Australia fighting in Syria range from seventy to above two hundred. Even though,
there are certain who agree to go to Syria deprived of pre-established connection to the armed
communities (Tammikko, 2018).
Australia should broadcast the inclusive arrangement to deal foreign terrorist fighters. The
arrangements also make plans to sue returning fighters (Byman, 2015). They support the
disconnection from terrorism. The authorities are required to put focus on the roles undertaken
by members of IS. It is required that the authorities should describe that how the terrorists of
Australia can be prosecuted by the nations wherever crimes were made (Hegghammer, 2010).
Australia makes proper efforts, for an example it ensures that UN Investigative Team is
evaluating IS war crimes. It is also required by the public statements to involve the descriptive
case study (Carlson, Bogetti and Burshtein, 2019).

ESSAY 6
Moreover, in all the states and territories, the terrorism disengagement programs provide help to
the foreign fighters along with dependents who might return to Australia. However, the terrorism
disengagement programs are not well known due to the privacy of the individuals. It is required
by the state government as well as territory governments to make case study for better
explanation. It will be helpful in explaining that how terrorism disengagement programs render
social services along with psychological services to affected people. The foreign terrorist fighters
represent the substantial challenges to the domestic nations and international communities. The
mechanism of Australia is best in the world, but it is not well known method in everywhere in
the world. It restricts the public awareness of the extensive work conducted for addressing the
headline matters. The authorities as well as media should address the difficult problems
presented by foreign fighters. Additionally, they should address the means available to
investigate them. They are helpful to bring them justice (Holmer and Shtuni, 2017).
In conclusion, the foreign terrorist fighters are considered as critical issues. There is wide-
ranging approach for Australia to deal foreign terrorist fighters. But, this is not reported to public
in effective as well as proper way. The longer access of conflict in Syria is well realized in
Australia. The threat made by foreign fighters coming back from Syria remains strong, even
though uncertain. The risk to central protection also derives from radicalised people in Australia.
The Syrian deployment is fundamentally reframing jihadist activities in Australia including the
protection concern that may not be miscalculated. The government of government has introduced
the series of preventive program and disciplinary measure to discourage will be foreign fighters,
however notwithstanding the numbers have increased. The way is not simple. When taking
alleged terrorists to justice in the own nations seems the correct thing to make. The main issue is
that they may pose the future threat. Other issues include accessibility of evidence, criminal
charges as well as mitigating conditions like being a minor. The rules, regulations, legislatures as
well as approaches are wide-ranging as well as rational. Besides, the re-evaluation along with
oversight methods renders scrutiny as well as balances. It is recommended that the counter
terrorism officials of Australia should publicize the approaches of Australia to the foreign
fighters. It may just the case-studies to exemplify the role’s range, involving children and female,
as well as exclusive scope of all the cases. It is clear that the government of Australia is required
to address how the people of Australia can be accused by the nations wherever the crime was
made. Additionally, the government of Australia should publicize the help of Australia for the

ESSAY 7
global efforts, such as help of the UN Investigative Team in relation to war crimes, and
assistance of the International Criminal Court. Moreover, the commonwealth, federal
government as well as government of state should render the anonymised case-studies on the
disengagement programs. Therefore, it is required to consider that these will be effective for the
foreign fighters as well as their families who may come back to Australia.

ESSAY 8
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ESSAY 9
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