Australian ISIS-linked women barred from returning home under exclusion orders
Consensus Summary
A group of 19 Australian women and children linked to ISIS returned to Australia from Syria on May 26, 2026, after seven years in detention, while Hodan Abby and her nine-year-old daughter were stranded in Damascus due to a temporary exclusion order (TEO) issued by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Abby, who attempted to board a flight but was blocked by airline warnings from the Australian Border Force, faces a two-year ban under the TEO, which prevents her from entering Australia despite her Australian citizenship. Her daughter, an Australian citizen with serious shrapnel injuries, remains with her in Syria, where the Syrian government has agreed to provide care. The Australian government has refused consular assistance, stating no obligation exists in a 'relatively safe' area, while child advocates like Save the Children criticize the decision as neglecting the welfare of the children, who make up two-thirds of the repatriated group. Earlier this month, three of the women who returned were arrested on charges including crimes against humanity and entering a terrorist zone, but no immediate arrests were made for the latest group. The TEO, imposed on ASIO advice, is the first of its kind and leaves Abby in legal limbo, with limited avenues for challenge. The government has also declined additional funding requests from NSW to monitor the returned families, despite opposition claims of inadequate security measures.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Hodan Abby, an Australian woman barred from Australia on a temporary exclusion order (TEO), attempted to board a flight to Australia on May 26, 2026, but was blocked in Damascus.
- Abby has a nine-year-old daughter with shrapnel injuries (head, neck, hip) who remains in Syria with her, and the child is an Australian citizen.
- Seven ISIS-linked women and 12 children (total 19 people) left Syria on May 26, 2026, arriving in Sydney and Melbourne, while Abby and her daughter were left behind due to the TEO.
- The TEO was issued by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in February 2026 on national security grounds, following ASIO advice.
- The Australian government has refused to provide consular assistance to Abby and her child in Syria, citing no obligation to assist in a 'relatively safe' area.
- The Syrian government has stated it will handle Abby and her child, and they will not be permitted to leave Damascus.
- The TEO prevents Abby from boarding any flight to Australia, with airlines receiving 'do not board' messages from the Australian Border Force.
- Three of the women who returned earlier this month were arrested: two charged with crimes against humanity (enslavement) and one with entering a terrorist zone.
- The last Australians in al-Roj detention camp have now left Syria, with no Australians remaining in the camp as of late May 2026.
- The Australian government issued one-use-only passports to the returning women and children after DNA testing in 2022 to confirm citizenship by descent.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- NSW government requested additional federal funding (up to $2M annually) to monitor returned ISIS-linked families, but the federal government declined specific support.
- Home Affairs counter-terrorism coordinator Brendan Dowling confirmed the NSW request but stated no further assistance would be provided for individual cases.
- Tony Burke mentioned three women are currently 'behind bars'âone charged with entering a declared terrorist area, two with crimes against humanity.
- The Australian Border Force commissioner, Gavan Reynolds, confirmed security systems worked effectively to block Abby from boarding.
- The opposition suggested the cost of monitoring and rehabilitating the women and children could reach $2 million annually.
- Legal experts and government sources agree Abbyâs TEO cannot be negotiated, and she is in 'completely unknown legal territory' as the first case of its kind.
- Don Rothwell, an ANU international law professor, stated Abbyâs best legal outcome would be lifting the TEO, but challenges would be limited without evidence of administrative errors.
- Family advocates and Save the Children argue the TEO ignores Australiaâs obligations to children, who make up two-thirds of the group.
- The Syrian government source stated they 'can handle her' and will seek advice on assisting dependants in Syria.
- The TEO was imposed during political controversy over earlier repatriation attempts, with Burke noting Abbyâs citizenship was granted under John Howardâs government.
- Abby fled Sydney at 18 in 2015 with a friend to join ISIS, telling her parents she was going on holiday; her friend was killed in Syria in 2015.
- Abbyâs daughter suffered shrapnel wounds as a baby, causing delayed development, and medical attention was previously denied at al-Roj camp.
- Two Australians (one man, one woman) traveled to Syria last week to assist with the repatriation of the women and children.
- Coalition figures criticized the government for being 'passive' and failing to block the womenâs return, with Nationals leader Matt Canavan questioning why more TEOs werenât issued.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states seven women who returned on May 26 could still face charges, while SMH and The Age do not mention pending charges for this group, only referencing earlier arrests.
- SMH and The Age imply the TEO prevents Abby from using her passport for any travel, while ABC does not explicitly state this limitation.
- ABC notes NSW requested additional resourcing in late April, but SMH and The Age do not mention this timeline or specific funding requests.
- The Age states Abbyâs friend was killed in Syria in 2015, but this detail is not confirmed in SMH or ABC.
- ABC mentions a Senate estimates hearing where Gavan Reynolds and Stephanie Foster spoke, but SMH and The Age do not reference this hearing.
Source Articles
ISIS-linked woman barred from Australia tried to board flight
An Australian woman with links to ISIS, who is barred from Australia on a temporary exclusion order, tried to board a flight home with the other members of yesterday's returning cohort, a Senate estimates hearing has been told.
ISIS bride will be stranded in Syria on Australian governmentâs orders
The remaining Australian women linked to Islamic State have left the al-Roj camp in Syria, but the Australian government refuses to let one of them back into the country.
âISIS brideâ barred from returning to Australia fled to Syria as teen to join jihadis
The identity of the woman who has been barred from returning can now be revealed. Her daughter, who is also now stuck in Syria, has serious medical issues caused by shrapnel wounds she suffered as a baby.
âISIS brideâ barred from returning to Australia fled to Syria as teen to join jihadis
The identity of the woman who has been barred from returning can now be revealed. Her daughter, who is also now stuck in Syria, has serious medical issues caused by shrapnel wounds she suffered as a baby.
ISIS bride will be stranded in Syria on Australian governmentâs orders
The remaining Australian women linked to Islamic State have left the al-Roj camp in Syria, but the Australian government refuses to let one of them back into the country.