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DANIEL MEERS
The Daily Telegraph
January 02, 2015 12:00AM

Australian terrorist Mohamed Elomar poses in Syria.

AUSTRALIAN death cult jihadists who fought with Islamic State in Syria before travel was banned to the region have returned home to roam our streets as free men because of a legal loophole.

More than 20 Australian terrorists, who have been militarised and brutalised, have returned from the Middle East and are now free in the community.

It is understood about half escaped any form of charges because proving what Australian jihadists have done overseas is difficult.

The government introduced new counterterrorism laws giving Foreign Minister Julie Bishop the power to ban travel to particular terrorist regions, but those who are already in the region cannot be jailed for flying there because the laws are not retrospective.

National Security agencies are closely monitoring the men.

Australian fanatic Khaled Sharrouf.

Nineteen of the 25 Australians who returned home from Afghanistan after fighting with Al-Qaeda were later involved in some form of terror activity in Australian.

The revelations show why the government is cancelling the passports of wannabe terrorists so they remain in Australia rather than being let go because prosecuting cases is difficult.

Australia has placed a ban on all travel to the Islamic State heartland of al-Raqqa in northern Syria.
While the laws are not retrospective, it is an offence to remain in a terror no go zone after the ban has been implemented.

Attorney-General George Brandis is on leave, but a spokeswoman for his department said Australians needed to leave terror zones immediately.

“Anyone fighting with IS and other terrorists should end their association with these groups now and leave the conflict zone,’’ she said.

Terror arrests in Sydney.

“Legislation recently passed by the parliament means those who leave Australia to engage in terrorism can be arrested (and) prosecuted ... on their return.

“We know there are some young Australians who think they’ve made the right choice in becoming involved in overseas conflicts, but that choice only adds to the suffering in Syria and Iraq — and it’s putting those young Australians themselves, and others, in mortal danger.”

Earlier this week, Ms Bishop said blocking Australians from leaving for potential terror roles was a better outcome than letting them leave and return.

“If they do become radicalised in Australia and then go overseas and fight with these organisations there is a risk they will come back as battle-hardened experienced terrorists,’’ she said.

“People who have become experienced terrorist fighters overseas do try and come back to their home country and try to carry out terrorist attacks.”