19 Australian Women and Children Linked to Isis Return from Syria, Face Potential Charges

A group of 19 Australian women and children linked to Isis have booked flights to return from Syria, with some expected to face charges. The seven women and 12 children were due to arrive in Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday, less than three weeks after another group of 13 people in similar situations returned to the country. Three of the four women on the previous flights were charged with slavery and terrorism offenses and jailed. Home Minister Tony Burke warned any of the 19 could “expect to face the full force of the law” if they had committed crimes. “The government has not and will not provide any assistance to this group,” he said, emphasizing their choice to join a dangerous terrorist organization. Australian agencies have been preparing for their return since 2014. After this group’s departure, at least two Australians would remain in Roj camp in northeast Syria. A mother prevented from returning in February by a temporary exclusion order wasn’t with the group. Exclusion orders, created in 2019, can prevent high-risk citizens from returning for up to two years. The last cohort returned on 7 May. Kawsar Ahmed (53) and her daughter Zeinab (31) were arrested in Melbourne over allegations of buying a Yazidi slave. Janai Safar (32) was arrested in Sydney for terrorism offenses. Australia has repatriated citizens from Syrian camps twice before, with others returning quietly without assistance.