Two Australian women, a mother and daughter aged 53 and 31, have been charged with crimes against humanity for keeping a female slave in Syria while supporting the Islamic State group. The women returned to Australia on Thursday evening and were immediately arrested at Melbourne International airport.

The 53-year-old woman is accused of being complicit in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000, while the 31-year-old woman is accused of knowingly keeping a female slave in her home.

The women were detained by Kurdish forces in 2019 as the Islamic State caliphate collapsed and were held in Syria's notorious Roj camp.

The case has stirred strong feelings in Australia, with some calling for the women to be punished for their actions and others advocating for their repatriation.

The court will next consider the charges against the women, with a hearing expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.