SYDNEY – Three women connected to ISIS faced arrest in Australia this week following their return from Syria, where they had been held in detention camps for more than seven years, according to authorities.
Two of the women, ages 53 and 31, are facing charges related to crimes against humanity, specifically for allegedly owning and using enslaved individuals while living in Syria. These charges could result in prison sentences of up to 25 years. The pair was taken into custody at Melbourne’s airport on Thursday evening after arriving in the country.
“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations,” stated Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt.
According to police reports, both women departed for Syria in 2014 alongside their families and are accused of holding a female individual in slavery at their residences. Legal representatives for the women were not immediately available for comment.
In a separate incident, authorities arrested a 32-year-old Australian woman at Sydney’s airport on Thursday on terrorism-related charges, including allegations of joining the Islamic State organization. These charges carry a potential 10-year prison term, and her court appearance is scheduled for Friday.
Police indicated this woman had traveled to Syria in 2015 to reunite with her spouse, who had previously departed Australia to join ISIS.
Earlier this week, government officials revealed that four women and nine children were planning to return to Australia from Syrian detention facilities without official government support.
Authorities have refused to provide updates regarding the fourth woman or the status of the children involved.
The return of these individuals has created political pressure for the center-left government, with opposition voices criticizing officials for failing to prevent their homecoming. However, government representatives emphasized that there are “very serious limits” on their authority to block Australian citizens from re-entering their home country.
After ISIS lost its territorial control, numerous family members of suspected fighters found themselves detained in Syrian camps.
In January, the United States initiated the relocation of detained ISIS members from Syria following the breakdown of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been responsible for guarding approximately twelve facilities housing fighters and associated civilians, including foreign nationals.
The Australian government previously brought home four women and 13 children from Syrian camps in 2022. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corp, approximately 21 Australians continue to be held at the al-Roj camp.
