ISIS-linked Australian women and children return home, face arrests and charges
Consensus Summary
A group of four Australian women (Kawsar Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed, Zahra Ahmed, and Janai Safar) and nine children linked to ISIS arrived in Australia on May 7, 2026, after nearly seven years in Syria’s Al Roj detention camp. Three of the women were immediately arrested upon arrival: Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmed were charged with crimes against humanity, including enslavement and slave trading, while Janai Safar was charged with terrorism-related offences. The Australian government has repeatedly stated it did not assist their return and will not repatriate ISIS-linked individuals, though it acknowledges the group’s legal right to return as Australian citizens. The women and children left the Al Roj camp on April 24, 2026, and were based in Damascus before booking flights to Australia. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has been investigating the group since 2015, with evidence collected in Syria during the war. The children will undergo community integration, therapeutic support, and countering violent extremism programs. The group’s return has sparked political debate, with the opposition accusing the government of failing to block their entry and manage national security risks. The women are accused of involvement in slavery and terrorism-related activities during their time in Syria, with allegations involving the enslavement of Yazidi women. The Australian government has issued only one Temporary Exclusion Order to prevent one woman from returning, indicating that the threshold for such orders was not met for the others.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Four women (Kawsar Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed, Zahra Ahmed, Janai Safar) and nine children linked to ISIS arrived in Australia on May 7, 2026, from Syria via Doha.
- Three women (Kawsar Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed, Janai Safar) were arrested upon arrival: Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmed charged with crimes against humanity (enslavement, slave trading, etc.), Janai Safar charged with terrorism-related offences.
- The women and children were detained in Syria’s Al Roj camp for nearly seven years after the fall of ISIS in 2019.
- The Australian government claims it did not assist the group’s return and has repeatedly stated it will not repatriate ISIS-linked individuals.
- The group left Al Roj camp on April 24, 2026, and were based in Damascus before booking flights to Australia.
- The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has been investigating the group since 2015, with evidence collected in Syria during the war.
- The children will undergo community integration, therapeutic support, and countering violent extremism programs.
- Kawsar Abbas (54) and Zeinab Ahmed (31) are accused of being complicit in the purchase and enslavement of a Yazidi woman in Syria between 2017 and 2018.
- Janai Safar (32) is charged with entering a declared terrorist area and being a member of a terrorist organisation.
- Zahra Ahmed (33) was not arrested or charged upon arrival.
- The Australian government has issued only one Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) to prevent one woman from returning to Australia.
- The group arrived in Australia after a previous attempt in February 2026 was turned back by Syrian authorities.
- The women and children hold Australian passports and are Australian citizens.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- A Yazidi woman named Sarab, who was allegedly enslaved by the family, has been interviewed by the AFP and is willing to testify against Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmed.
- The group was escorted out of Al Roj camp by two male family members.
- The women were accompanied by their uncle, Abraham Abbas, a Melbourne boxing coach, who helped bring them home.
- The women expressed excitement about returning to Australia, describing it as 'paradise' for their children, who had never visited before.
- The group formed a community in the Al Roj camp called 'Australia Street'.
- The women were willing to face arrest for the sake of their children's freedom, describing conditions in the camp as 'hell'.
- The group had been stuck in Damascus for nearly two weeks before their flights were booked.
- The US government has been pressuring Australia to repatriate its citizens from Syria, with a US official expressing frustration at Australia's stance in February 2026.
- The group’s return has been politically contentious, with the Coalition accusing the government of failing to block their entry.
- The group’s return follows a shift in the Australian government’s position since the Bondi terror attack in December 2025.
- The group’s return has sparked a debate about the balance between upholding citizens' rights and managing security risks.
- The AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt stated that the investigation into the group has been ongoing since 2015 and involves 'very serious allegations'.
- The charges against Kawsar Abbas include allegations that she was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for $10,000 USD in June 2017.
- The AFP has been collecting evidence in Syria during the war, despite the dangerous conditions.
- The group received their passports through prominent western Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi.
- The group’s return has been described as a 'national security scandal' by the opposition.
- The Coalition has accused the government of not using all available powers to prevent the group’s return, including Temporary Exclusion Orders.
- The group’s return has been linked to a 'secret' meeting between Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and advocates in July 2025.
- The group’s return has been framed as a failure of the government to 'keep Australians safe'.
- The group’s return has been described as a 'dramatic end' to their efforts to flee the Al Roj camp.
- The group’s return has been politically contentious, with the Coalition demanding the government block their entry.
- The group’s return has been framed as a 'national security scandal' by the opposition.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC and Guardian report that the Australian government was the 'deciding factor' in the group’s departure from Syria, according to a Syrian government official, but DFAT denies any contact with Syrian officials regarding the group.
- The ABC and Guardian state that the group left Al Roj camp on April 24, 2026, but some sources suggest the group had been planning to leave earlier, with a previous attempt in February 2026 being turned back.
- The ABC and Guardian report that the group was turned back by Syrian authorities in February 2026, but the Syrian government claims the group was prevented from reaching Damascus airport due to Australia’s refusal to receive them.
- The ABC and Guardian report that the group was escorted out of Al Roj camp by two male family members, but some sources suggest the group left with the assistance of Syrian security forces.
- The ABC and Guardian report that the group was in Damascus for nearly two weeks before their flights were booked, but some sources suggest the delay was due to Australia’s refusal to receive them.
Source Articles
DFAT says it has not been talking with Syria about return of 'ISIS brides'
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it has not had any contact with Syrian officials about the return of a group of Australian women and children with links to the Islamic State terrorist group.
Australian government 'deciding factor' in departure of ISIS-linked families from Syria
The Syrian government says Australia was the ultimate decision-maker in the delay of a group of four women and nine children with links to Islamic State leaving Syria for Australia.
No 'legal barrier' blocking ISIS-linked families returning to Australia, law expert says
A week since a group of 13 Australian women and children with ties to former Islamic State fighters left a Syrian refugee camp for Australia, they remain in the capital Damascus in a state of limbo.
‘Horrific choice’: Huge ISIS brides update
The Albanese government has made a huge call on a group of ISIS-linked Australians confirmed to have made plans to return home.
News live: Syria claims Australian government ‘refused to receive’ families from detention camp trying to leave Damascus
Meanwhile Penny Wong says China has agreed to facilitate exports of jet fuel to ease supply disruptions. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Chalmers understands calls for gas export tax, but says government focused on getting fuel for Australians Chalmers said he understands calls to tax gas exports, but maintained the government was set on securing international supply arrangements during the ongoing fuel crisis. He told RN: I understand that t
Three ‘ISIS brides’ arrested after returning to Australia
Three Islamic State-linked women have been arrested, one of whom has been charged, after arriving back in Australia and face jail time for alleged slavery offences and travelling to proscribed zones.
Three ISIS brides arrested, one charged
One woman has been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation, with others expected to be charged with slavery-related offences.
Australia news live: two Victorian women charged with crimes against humanity offences after return from Syria
The two Victorian women face charges including enslavement, while another woman will appear in court in Sydney having been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. Follow updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The two women arrested in Melbourne yesterday after their return from Syria have now been charged by the Australian Federal Police. A woman, 53, was charged with multiple crimes against humanity, including enslavement, possessing a slave, using
Arrests planned when ISIS-linked families land in Australia
Flights have been booked for families linked to Islamic State fighters returning from Syria to Australia, with women in the group facing arrest and investigation when they touch down.
‘Weighing up’: MP’s big call on ISIS brides
Women and children stranded in Syria may be “weighing up whether they want to come back to Australia ever”, an MP claims.
'I was their slave': ISIS-linked Australians charged with crimes against humanity
The ABC can reveal new detail about the alleged treatment of a Yazidi woman who says she was held captive in the home of ISIS-linked Australians in Syria, including two women who are now facing slave-related charges.
Charges flagged as women and children from IS-linked families set to fly from Syria to Australia
Home affairs minister Tony Burke says government continues to refuse to help the group of 13 Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Some of the Australian women linked to Islamic State fighters face arrest and possible charges on their return from Syria this week, with the government and federal police promising a hardline response when the group touches down. The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed that the go
Two Australian states prepare to resettle children from Syrian detention camp with most bound for Melbourne
Four women and nine children expected to return to Australia on Thursday with all apart from a mother and her child expected to go to Victoria Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Authorities in two Australian states are preparing to resettle children returning from squalid detention camps and life under Islamic State rule, as at least some of their mothers face possible criminal charges. Four women and nine children are expected to return to Australia on Thursday, with a
Two ISIS brides to make bid for freedom on slavery charges
Charge sheets reveal the women are accused of illegally using and exercising ownership over a slave until November 2018.
Trump administration urges countries to help citizens stuck in Syria as Australia maintains hardline stance
Syrian officials say a group Australians ‘awaiting a solution’ as Albanese government refuses to repatriate them Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The Trump administration says it is in “active communication” with countries, urging them to repatriate citizens stranded in Syria, while the Australian government maintains its hardline stance towards Australian women and children detained since the fall of Islamic State. A group of four women, their nine children and grand
Keeping 'ISIS brides' out of sight will not make Australia safer
The political energy spent on the "ISIS brides" has not been matched by serious attention to the deficiencies in Australia's counterterrorism architecture.
ISIS brides question Wong won’t answer
The Foreign Affairs Minister has dodged a key question about the fate of women and children stranded in Syria.
Afternoon Update: IS-linked women returning to Australia; Trump pauses ‘Project Freedom’; and The Rolling Stones’ new album
Want to get this in your inbox every weekday? Sign up for the Afternoon Update here , and start your day with our Morning Mail newsletter . Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update. Some of the Australian women linked to Islamic State fighters may face arrest and possible charges on their return from Syria this week, with the government and federal police promising a hardline response when the group touches down. Trump puts ‘Project Freedom’ on hold, saying he hopes to finalise a deal with Iran Sea
ISIS-linked families land in Australia two weeks after leaving Syrian camp
A group of Australian women and children with links to former ISIS fighters have begun arriving in Australia, nearly two weeks after leaving a refugee camp in Syria.
'I was their slave': New details of Yazidi woman's alleged captivity emerge
The ABC can reveal new detail about the alleged treatment of a Yazidi woman who claims she was held captive in the home of ISIS-linked Australians in Syria, including two women who are now facing slave-related charges.
What we know about the ISIS-linked Australian families in Syria
Four Australian women, their children and grandchildren are stuck in limbo in Syria after leaving a refugee camp for family members of suspected Islamic State fighters. This is what we know about them.
ISIS brides' arrest in Australia prompts anger in Syrian camp
The arrest of three Australian women linked to the Islamic State group sparks anger and frustration inside the Syrian refugee camp where they had lived for years.
Three ‘ISIS brides’ arrested after returning to Australia
Three Islamic State-linked women have been arrested, one of whom has been charged, after arriving back in Australia and face jail time for alleged slavery offences and travelling to proscribed zones.
Albo lashed over ISIS brides ‘opposition’
US state officials have criticised Australia’s failure to repatriate ‘frustrated’ Islamic State families from a camp in Syria.
ISIS bride husband’s horror slave allegations
The mother of two Aussie ISIS brides - whose own husband is locked up and accused of slavery - wrote gushing posts about her “soldier of Allah” son.
ISIS brides’ new bail move: court
Two women charged with slavery offences after returning to Australia from a Syrian refugee camp have abandoned their bid to be released.
Thirteen ISIS-linked Australians to land in Melbourne, Sydney
Two flights carrying 13 Australians linked to ISIS have begun their descent to Melbourne and Sydney, with arrests expected upon landing.
IS-linked families touchdown in Australia, after years in Syrian camp
A group of women and children linked to the so-called Islamic State have arrived in Melbourne and Sydney.
Indecision, secrets, and 'inevitability': Behind the latest 'ISIS bride' return
Advocates and the former Home Affairs boss say the return of another wave of so-called 'ISIS brides' was "inevitable". But a hands-off approach means Labor lost control of the narrative.
ISIS-linked families to arrive in Australia today after years in Syria
Australian authorities are preparing for the arrival of 13 women and children linked to Islamic State fighters, expected to land in the country from Syria today.
ISIS brides housed with mushroom killer: court
Two women accused of keeping a woman as a slave overseas have been housed alongside triple-killer Erin Patterson ahead of dual bids for bail.
What is known about the IS-linked families that arrived in Australia
Women and children linked to the Islamic State terrorist group have arrived in Melbourne and Sydney. Here's who they are and what awaits them.
US government expressed frustration at government ‘opposition’ to ISIS bride repatriation
The prime minister also denied having a change of heart about the four women and their children as major parties harden their stance on immigration.
IS-linked mother and daughter charged with crimes against humanity including slavery face Melbourne court
Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appear in Melbourne as Janai Safar, 32, due to face Sydney court on separate charges including joining a terrorist organisation Two Australian women charged with committing crimes against humanity including slavery offences during the rule of Islamic State in Syria have faced a Melbourne court. Kawsar Ahmad, 53, also known as Abbas, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were arrested by officers from the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team (JCTT) at Melbou
Alleged ISIS-linked women to seek bail: Court
A mother and daughter charged with slavery offences after returning from Syria have revealed plans to seek bail.
Planes carrying IS-linked family members land in Australia, with police expected to make arrests
Group of 13 women and children left Syria for Australia on Wednesday, with authorities saying some adults may be charged Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Thirteen women and children have landed in Australia after being detained for more than seven years in Syrian detention camps following the fall of Islamic State. Some of the women may face arrest and possible criminal charges – including terrorism and slavery related offences – with the Australian federal police (AF
‘Keep Australians safe’: Vow on ISIS brides
Three Australian women allegedly linked to ISIS have been arrested at the country’s biggest airports in what the Coalition is calling a “national security scandal”.
Identities of IS families revealed ahead of return and arrest in Australia
Some of the 13 Australians in Syria with links to Islamic State will be arrested and charged when they return to Australia. All are returning to Sydney or Melbourne.
Australian women accused of slavery in Islamic State territory in Syria face Melbourne court
Kawsar Ahmad, 53, also known as Abbas, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, did not apply during brief hearing Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Two Australian women charged with slavery offences that allegedly occurred while they lived under Islamic State rule in Syria have faced a Melbourne court. Kawsar Ahmad, 53, also known as Abbas, and her daughter, Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were arrested by officers from the Victorian
ISIS-linked women willing to take the 'hit' of arrests for their kids' freedom
When a group of so-called "ISIS brides" boarded a flight from Doha to Melbourne, they took a leap of faith, unsure of what fate awaited them at the end of their journey. But they said they were willing to face arrest for the freedom of their children.
‘Clear’: Big detail in on ISIS brides arrest
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has been grilled on reports the US has intervened to help a group of ISIS-linked Australians return home.
More Politics stories
Australia’s largest gun buyback scheme after Bondi terror attack
Australia introduces gambling ad opt-out register and reforms amid political debate
Labor’s $5,000 cap on veterans’ allied health services sparks outrage
Victorian teachers accept pay deal after strikes, ending dispute
One Nation candidate Parminder Singh's homophobic comments spark party backlash
Productivity Commission criticizes WA GST deal as costly and unfair, calling for reversal
Latest cross-verified stories
Sydney Swans players linked to sexual assault allegations and club sanctions
Australia vs Bangladesh Test series in 2026, featuring historic upsets and batting struggles
Ukraine targets Wildberries warehouses and Russian infrastructure with drone strikes amid escalating war
Meta trial over social media addiction in children begins in California
Prince Harry and others ordered to pay legal costs to Daily Mail publisher after losing privacy lawsuit
Mass bird deaths linked to H5 bird flu in Australia’s southern states
Browse all stories from April 2026 in the archive.