Three Women Linked to Islamic State Arrested in Australia After Returning from Syria

The women and their children, all Australian citizens, had spent years in a Syrian detention camp following the collapse of the militant group's self-declared caliphate. They flew from Doha and landed in Melbourne and Sydney on Thursday evening after leaving the al-Roj camp earlier this year.

Counter-terrorism forces arrested two women immediately after their arrival at Melbourne international airport. A third woman was arrested after landing in Sydney. A fourth woman traveling with the group of 13 was not arrested. Police accused a 53-year-old woman of multiple crimes against humanity including possessing a slave, using a slave and slave trading.

A 31-year-old woman faced two slavery charges. The offenses allegedly took place in Syria. A 32-year-old woman was charged with traveling to a banned area and joining a terrorist organisation. The potential charges had been outlined the previous day and included entering or remaining in declared areas as well as crimes against humanity such as engaging in slave trading.

The group is part of a larger cohort of 34 women and children, including wives, widows and offspring of Islamic State fighters, who left the Syrian camp in February but returned for technical reasons. One member of that cohort was banned from returning to Australia this year under a temporary exclusion order.

Australia made it an offense to travel to Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa province in Syria between 2014 and 2017. Hundreds of women from Western nations traveled to the Middle East during the group's rise, often following husbands who joined as fighters.

The women had allegedly sneaked into Syria in the early 2010s to join the group. One of those arriving in Sydney had previously told media it was her own decision to go and that she did not want to return for fear of arrest and losing her child.

Officials became aware the women were returning only on Wednesday when tickets were booked. Police had confirmed some would be arrested and charged. A heavy police presence was reported at both airports. The government had maintained it would provide no help for their return and had been preparing long-standing plans since 2014 to manage and monitor any who came back.