MELBOURNE —Australian authorities have filed serious criminal charges against three women accused of having ties to the Islamic State (IS) group after they returned from Syria this week.
The women arrived in Australia on Thursday with several children after spending years inside detention camps in northeastern Syria following the fall of IS-controlled territory.
Crimes Against Humanity Charges Filed in Melbourne
Two of the women, Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appeared before a Melbourne court on Friday.
Federal investigators allege the pair travelled to Syria in 2014 with family members and later kept an enslaved woman inside their residence during the Islamic State conflict period.
According to police allegations, the victim was bought for approximately US$10,000 and forced to remain in the household.
Kawsar Ahmad faces four counts linked to crimes against humanity, while Zeinab Ahmad has been charged with two similar offences. The charges carry potential prison terms of up to 25 years.
The court ordered both women to remain in custody until a further hearing scheduled for next week.
Sydney Court Hears Separate Terrorism Case
A third returnee, 32-year-old Janai Safar, faced court proceedings in Sydney after arriving in Australia with her child.
Authorities allege she travelled to Syria in 2015 to reunite with her husband, who had reportedly joined the Islamic State group earlier.
Safar has been charged with entering a declared conflict zone and allegedly being a member of a terrorist organisation. She remains in custody and is expected to appear before court again in July.
Federal Police Describe Allegations as Serious
Australian Federal Police said investigations into citizens who travelled to overseas conflict areas are ongoing.
Counter-terrorism officials stated that law enforcement agencies would continue pursuing individuals suspected of committing offences connected to extremist groups abroad.
Group Was Part of Larger Repatriation Effort
The women were part of a broader group of Australian women and children who had been living in the al-Roj detention camp in Syria since 2019.
The camp has housed foreign nationals linked to former Islamic State territories after the militant group lost control of major areas in Syria and Iraq.
Emotional and Chaotic Airport Scenes
Crowded scenes unfolded at Melbourne Airport after one woman who was not arrested exited the terminal with children.
Relatives and supporters quickly surrounded the family as journalists and television crews gathered outside the arrivals area to capture the moment.
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