Australia repatriates "ISIS brides" from Syria, arrests expected

A group of women and children linked to the collapsed Islamic State has begun arriving in Australia, more than six years after they were taken to refugee camps in Syria.

One group landed at Melbourne Airport shortly before 5:30 p.m. local time, May 6, while another woman and her child arrived in Sydney approximately 15 minutes later, as per foreign media reports.

The individuals are part of a cohort sometimes referred to by politicians as “ISIS brides” — women who travelled to Syria during the peak of the Islamic State’s territorial control and later became stranded after the group’s self-declared “caliphate” was defeated in 2019.

Following the collapse of the group, thousands of foreign relatives of suspected or deceased Islamic State fighters were detained in camps across northeastern Syria, where many have remained for years.

According to available information, 13 Australian nationals — including four women and nine children — departed the Al Roj camp on April 24. They are believed to have stayed in Damascus before arranging flights back to Australia earlier this week.

The repatriation has created a political challenge for the federal government, which has consistently condemned the actions of the group and previously warned that those involved would not receive assistance from Australia.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed that some of the returning women are expected to be arrested and charged upon arrival. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated that potential charges could include “terrorism offences, such as entering or remaining in declared areas, and crimes against humanity offences such as engaging in slave trading”.

Barrett added that investigations into certain individuals will continue after their return.

It is also understood that 21 Australian nationals remain in the Al Roj camp in northeastern Syria.

By Tamilla Hasanova