Australians Leave Syrian Camp and Return Home

Seven women and 14 children left the al-Roj camp in Kurdish-controlled north-eastern Syria last week and are scheduled to arrive in Australia as early as Tuesday afternoon. The group drove more than 750 kilometres to Damascus, where Syrian authorities kept them out of public view over the weekend.

They then flew to Doha on Monday and are continuing to Sydney and Melbourne on Australian passports issued before their February attempt to leave the camp.

Australians returned earlier this month.

Three women were arrested on arrival: Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad on slavery charges, and Janai Safar on charges of joining a terrorist organisation and travelling to a declared area. A fourth woman, Zahra Ahmad, was not arrested. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated on Monday that federal police operations for returns from Syria have been active since 2015 and that agencies are prepared for any citizens who choose to return.

They are Nesrine Zahab, Sumaya Zahab, Aminah Zahab, Kirsty Rosse-Emile, Hodan Abby, Kawsar Kanj and Hyam Raad. One woman received a temporary exclusion order in February that can bar entry for up to two years on national security grounds. It remains unclear whether she will travel with the group or remain in Syria.

The Syrian government did not respond to ABC requests for comment on the current group.