Re-declaration of Mosul District, Iraq

Today I have re-declared the area of Mosul district, Ninewa province in Iraq, under section 119.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995. This means it will continue to be an offence under Australian law to enter, or remain in, Mosul district without a legitimate purpose. Mosul district was first declared on 2 March 2015.

Since 2014, ISIS has carried out mass atrocities in Mosul district, including abductions, summary executions of civilians and indiscriminate attacks on Iraqi security forces and the resident population.

With support from international partners, including Australia, Iraqi security forces have made extraordinary progress against ISIS in the vast majority of territory it once claimed in Iraq and Syria, including the city of Mosul.

I met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Kuwait recently during the Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL and noted that ISIS continues to engage in sporadic hostile activity within Mosul district. I confirmed that Australia was committed to supporting Iraq to ensure the lasting defeat of the terrorist organisation.

We will continue to take measures to stop Australians fighting in overseas conflicts and supporting terrorist organisations, including ISIS. Maintaining the Mosul district as a declared area provides our law enforcement agencies with a valuable tool to prosecute Australians supporting terrorism. The Government is totally committed to protecting Australians and holding terrorists and their supporters accountable.

Under the Criminal Code, a person who enters or remains in a declared area without a legitimate purpose faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

Any Australians currently in Mosul district without a legitimate purpose should leave immediately. The security situation in Iraq remains extremely dangerous and it is listed as a 'do not travel destination' on Smartraveller.

The government will revoke the declaration if circumstances change, as occurred on 27 November 2017 with the revocation of al Raqqa province.

Further information on the declared area offence, including the declaration of Mosul district, can be found on the Australian National Security website.