Australian Federal Police arrested three women arriving from Syria on Thursday, charging them with terrorism and slavery-related offences linked to the Islamic State group. The suspects, aged 54, 31, and 32, were taken into custody upon arrival in Melbourne and Sydney after being repatriated from detention camps in northeast Syria.

Two Qatar Airways flights carried the group of four women and nine children to Australia, with one flight landing in Melbourne carrying three women and eight children, and another arriving in Sydney with one woman and her son. The 54-year-old woman faces four counts of crimes against humanity relating to slavery, including possessing and trading slaves in Syria, while the 31-year-old is expected to face two slavery charges. The 32-year-old in Sydney is set to be charged with membership in a terrorist organisation and travelling to a banned area.

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt confirmed the charges stem from activities in Syria and emphasized that community safety remains the top priority. Some charges carry maximum penalties of up to 25 years in prison. A fourth woman in the group was not arrested as of Thursday evening.

The returnees had spent years in camps such as al-Roj following the 2019 collapse of ISIS's self-declared caliphate. Some reportedly lived in Syria between 2012 and 2016, often alongside IS-affiliated partners. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemned the women's initial decision to join ISIS, while child welfare advocates urged focus on the children's rehabilitation. About 21 Australians remain in Syrian detention camps.

The court is expected to process the charges in the coming days, with legal proceedings set to begin shortly. Australian authorities have conducted similar repatriations in 2019, 2022, and 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to manage citizens linked to conflict zones.