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Foreign Minister Declares Iraq's Mosul an Illegal Area for Australian Citizens

Australia’s foreign minister Julie Bishop declared Mosul, in Iraq’s Ninewa Province, a “designated area” under Australia’s criminal code on Monday, March 2. Under section 119.3, it will be an offence under Australian law to enter, or remain in, Mosul “without a legitimate purpose”.

“Anyone who does so faces a penalty of up to ten years imprisonment,” Bishop said.

Mosul is controlled by the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). Bishop described IS as “madmen” who are “seeking to take the world back to the dark ages”. Credit: Parliament of Australia