Trending Now - Australian Women Linked to IS Charged After Returning From Syria
WHO:
ABC News - Australian women with alleged ties to the Islamic State group.
ABC News - Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
ABC News - Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett.
WHAT:
ABC News - The Australian government was alerted that the four women and nine children had booked flights from Damascus to Australia, but the expected arrival date was not disclosed.
ABC News - Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett stated, "Some individuals will be arrested and charged. Some will face continued investigations when they arrive in Australia."
ABC News - The children of the women will undergo programs to counter violent extremism upon their return.
ABC News - A number of Australian women will be arrested and face criminal investigations upon their return from Syria.
ABC News - Four women and nine children have booked flights from Damascus to Australia.
ABC News - Investigations have included potential terrorism offenses and crimes against humanity such as slave trading.
ABC News - The Australian government has stated it will not assist in the repatriation of these individuals.
ABC News - A previous attempt to return 34 women and children from the same camp was turned back by Syrian authorities.
ABC News - One woman was issued a temporary exclusion order preventing her return for up to two years.
ABC News - Under Australian law, traveling to the former Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa without a legitimate reason was punishable by up to 10 years in prison from 2014 to 2017.
WHERE:
ABC News - The women were held in Roj Camp near Syria's border with Iraq.
ABC News - The Australian government is based in Australia.
WHEN:
ABC News - The women left the camp last week.
ABC News - The temporary exclusion order was created by laws introduced in 2019.
WHY:
ABC News - Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized that the government's lack of support for the individuals is a "direct reflection of the decisions that they made."
ABC News - The Australian government has drawn a hard line against assisting individuals who traveled to support the Islamic State group.
ABC News - The government’s stance reflects the decisions made by the individuals concerned.
HOW:
ABC News - The Australian Federal Police have been investigating the behavior of Australians who traveled to the Islamic State group’s territory since 2015.
(UPDATED May 6, 2026 17:28 UTC)
The Australian government has been informed that four women and nine children have booked flights from Damascus to Australia, although their expected arrival date remains undisclosed. Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced that some individuals will be arrested and charged upon arrival, while others will face ongoing investigations. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke highlighted that the government's lack of support for these individuals is a direct reflection of the decisions they made, and the children will participate in programs aimed at countering violent extremism once they return.
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(UPDATED May 6, 2026 15:47 UTC)
A number of Australian women with alleged ties to the Islamic State group are set to be arrested and face criminal investigations upon their return from Syria, where they were held in Roj Camp. Four women and nine children have booked flights from Damascus to Australia, but the government has stated it will not assist in their repatriation, reflecting a hard line against individuals who supported the Islamic State. The Australian Federal Police have been investigating the behavior of Australians who traveled to the Islamic State territory since 2015, and under laws introduced in 2019, one woman has been issued a temporary exclusion order preventing her return for up to two years.