Australian authorities arrested three women with alleged ties to the extremist group Islamic State after they returned from Syria with several children. The women arrived in Australia after spending years inside detention camps in northern Syria following the collapse of the ISIS caliphate in 2019.
Police arrested 53 year old Kawsar Abbas and 31 year old Zeinab Ahmed after their flight landed in Melbourne. Another woman, 32 year old Janai Safar, was taken into custody after arriving in Sydney with her young son.
Officials confirmed that all three women are Australian citizens. A fourth woman who travelled with the group was not arrested.
Children Receive Support After Arrival
The returning group included nine children aged between six and their teenage years. Australian authorities said the children would receive mental health support and undergo welfare and security assessments.
The case has sparked political debate across Australia. Government officials previously stated they would not assist citizens linked to ISIS in returning home from Syria.
Human rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about the poor conditions inside Syrian detention camps. Thousands of foreign women and children have remained trapped there for years after the defeat of ISIS.
Family Connections Raise Security Concerns
Kawsar Abbas reportedly spent time in the al Roj detention camp along with her daughters and grandchildren. Her husband, Mohammad Ahmad, has previously faced allegations from Australian investigators who suspected that a charity connected to him helped transfer money to ISIS fighters.
He denied those accusations during a past media interview while being held in a Syrian prison.
One of the women believed to have returned to Melbourne is Zahra Ahmed, the widow of former ISIS recruiter Muhammad Zahab. Zahab died during an air strike in Syria in 2018.
When the group arrived at Melbourne Airport, several men gathered near the terminal and attempted to shield one woman from media cameras before escorting her into a waiting vehicle.
Sydney Woman Arrested on Arrival
Janai Safar arrived separately in Sydney with her nine year old son, who was born in Syria. Police officers boarded the aircraft shortly after landing and escorted her away for questioning.
Safar previously studied nursing in Sydney before travelling to Syria in 2015. Reports claim she later married an ISIS fighter.
In an earlier interview, she admitted that travelling to Syria was her personal decision. She also expressed fears about returning to Australia because she believed authorities might separate her from her child.
Australia Faces Ongoing Security Challenge
Australia remains one of several countries handling the difficult issue of citizens returning from former ISIS territories. Governments continue to balance national security concerns with humanitarian responsibilities, especially when children are involved.
Security agencies are expected to continue monitoring the situation closely while investigations into the women’s activities move forward.
