Australian Federal Police Arrest ISIS-Linked Women

On Thursday, the Australian Federal Police arrested three women closely connected to Islamic State shortly after they arrived on a flight back to Australia. This marked the end of nearly ten years of anticipation for their return and the opportunity for law enforcement to take action.

The women—Zeinab Ahmed, 31, Janai Safar, 32, and Kausar Abbas, 53—face multiple charges related to crimes against humanity, which include terrorism, enslavement, and slave trafficking, all tied to activities from 2015. Each terrorism-related charge has a potential maximum penalty of ten years, while charges related to slavery could lead to 25 years in prison. According to Stephen Nutt, Deputy Counter-Terrorism Commissioner, one of these cases is particularly significant.

This group is often referred to as ISIS brides, consisting of four Australian women alongside their nine children and grandchildren, who traveled to Syria to marry Islamic State fighters before the collapse of the caliphate in 2019. Similar cases have arisen in Europe over the last decade, where many women have also sought to join ISIS.

Reports indicate that Abbas and Ahmed were arrested in Melbourne, while Safar was taken into custody in Sydney. They are expected to appear in court soon, possibly as early as the next day.

According to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), men dressed in black were seen waiting for the women at Melbourne International Airport. Some of these men allegedly attempted to escort the women out while wearing masks.

The group had been residing at the al-Rooj camp in northeastern Syria for several years, which was controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). However, ongoing conflicts between the SDF and the new Syrian government led to the loss of control over the camp, prompting this group to leave several weeks ago.

Since February, the Syrian government has been working to expel Australian nationals, despite the Australian government’s efforts to prevent their return. This issue has created political challenges for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s left-leaning administration, with opponents actively questioning the government’s response.

Before their return, Home Secretary Tony Burke emphasized that the Australian government would offer no additional assistance to the women. There are reports that 21 Australians are still believed to be in the al-Rozi camp.