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Three women face court after repatriation from Syria
Australian authorities have formally charged three women with offences tied to the Islamic State (IS) group following their return from Syria this week. Two appeared in a Melbourne court on Friday, while a third faced charges in Sydney.
Melbourne mother and daughter remanded in custody
Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were arrested at Melbourne Airport less than 24 hours before their court appearance. Both were denied bail and will remain in custody until Monday, when their legal team plans to request release.
Police allege Kawsar Ahmad traveled to Syria in 2014 with her family and was involved in purchasing a female slave for $10,000, later keeping the woman in her home. She faces four charges of crimes against humanity, each carrying a maximum 25-year prison term.
Zeinab Ahmad is accused of knowingly keeping a female slave in the same household after arriving in Syria in 2014. She faces two similar charges.
Sydney woman charged with terrorism offences
Janai Safar, 32, appeared in a Sydney court on Friday after arriving from Syria with her young son the previous day. She is accused of entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining IS, with both charges carrying a potential 10-year sentence.
According to police, Safar traveled to Syria in 2015 to reunite with her husband, who had previously left Australia to join the militant group.
Broader repatriation effort and airport chaos
The three women were part of a group of four women and nine children who landed in Australia on Thursday. They had been living in Syria's al-Roj camp since 2019 before attempting to return earlier this year. Their initial repatriation bid failed due to "technical reasons," with the government refusing to assist.
A fourth woman from the group, Zahra Ahmad-another adult child of Kawsar Ahmad-was not detained upon arrival. Scenes at Melbourne Airport turned chaotic when a group of men, mostly dressed in black, surrounded her and the children to shield them from media cameras.
Ongoing investigation and government stance
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt confirmed the arrests are part of a wider probe into Australians who traveled to conflict zones. "We will ensure those alleged to have committed criminal offences are held accountable," he stated.
One member of the original 34-person cohort was barred from returning under a temporary exclusion order, preventing re-entry for up to two years.
