Australia launches bid to stop 'jihadi bride' runaways

A photo of British girl Shamima Begum, who is thought to have fled to Syria to join Isis, is held up by her eldest sister Renu. Photo / AFP

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the government is working in Muslim communities to prevent young Australian women leaving the country to become so-called "jihadi brides" for Islamic State.

It's understood as many as 40 Australian women had either travelled to the Middle East to join Isis (Islamic State), or are engaging in or supporting terrorist activity in Syria, Iraq or Australia.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) says dozens of young Australian women had "either gone or contemplated going" as so-called "jihadi brides".

Speaking this morning, Ms Bishop said the government was working to stop young Australian women joining Isis.

"We have a number of community initiatives and programs are working with local communities, working with schools, working with families ... working with local mosques," she told ABC Radio.

"This is a terrorist organisation that has an appalling track record when it comes to women, they actually have online instructions on how to treat a sex slave.

"Their attitude towards women is utterly appalling."

She said there was no "romantic adventure" attached to supporting IS, and that the government had committed A$545 million to counter radicalisation.

Ms Bishop said she did not believe Muslims had been offended by Mr Abbott's comments urging them to do more to combat the threat of terrorism.

"I don't believe they have," she said.

"We're working very closely with mosques in a number of instances."

The comments come after Ms Bishop told parliament yesterday an increasing number of young females were joining the conflict in Syria.

She said the trend defied logic, and called on friends and families of at-risk young people to "reach out" before it was too late.

Asio said there were 30-40 women involved in trying to get to Syria, some of whom had been successful in getting offshore.

Two weeks ago, it was reported several had become slaves of the terrorist group after their partners were killed.

- AAP