"If you make your bed, you lie in it." – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the government's stance toward Australian women who traveled to Syria to support the Islamic State.

The Long Return: Australia’s Repatriation from Syrian Camps Concludes

A multi-year process involving the repatriation of Australian citizens—primarily women and children—detained in camps in northeastern Syria following the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) group has concluded. Over 40 individuals have returned to Australia in multiple groups since 2019. The Australian government has stated it did not facilitate these returns, but has taken legal action against some returnees.

Background: Detention in Syrian Camps

Following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State caliphate in March 2019, thousands of foreign nationals associated with the group were detained in camps in northeastern Syria, including Al-Roj and Al-Hol. Among them were Australian women and children.

The women are described as wives, widows, or associates of IS fighters. Many of the children were born in the camps or taken there at a young age.

The camps were controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Their future became uncertain after shifts in the political and military landscape in Syria in 2024 and 2025, including the transfer of control of some camps to Syrian government forces. Human rights organizations reported deteriorating conditions and security risks for detainees.

Timeline of Repatriations

2019

• The Morrison government repatriated eight orphaned children from Syrian camps.

2022

• In October, the Albanese government repatriated four women and 13 children. The women were identified as the partners of former IS supporters.

2024-2025 Returns (Without Government Facilitation)

• October 2024: Two women and four children returned to Australia independently after escaping the Al-Hol camp and traveling through Lebanon.
• February 2026: A group of 34 Australian women and children (11 women, 23 children) attempted to leave Al-Roj camp but were turned back by Syrian authorities, who cited a lack of coordination.

April – May 2026 Returns

• April 24, 2026: Four women and nine children departed the Al-Roj camp and traveled to Damascus. They were initially delayed but eventually flew to Australia in May.
• May 7, 2026: The group of four women and nine children arrived in Melbourne and Sydney. Three of the women were arrested upon arrival. Police stated some individuals would be charged and others would face ongoing investigations.
• Late May 2026: A larger group of seven women and 14 children left the Al-Roj camp for Damascus. On May 26, 19 individuals (seven women and 12 children) arrived in Australia. The group included Nesrine Zahab, Sumaya Zahab, Aminah Zahab, Hyam Raad, Kirsty Rosse-Emile, and Kawsar Kanj. No arrests were made at the airport during this arrival, though investigations continued.
• June 2026: The final Australian woman detained in Syria, Hodan Abby, was granted a permit to return to Australia after a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) was lifted. She was the last of the cohort to return.

Legal Proceedings Against Returnees

Several women who returned to Australia have faced legal charges for actions allegedly committed in Syria.

Terrorism Offenses

• Janai Safar, 32, was charged in Sydney with being a member of a terrorist organization and entering or remaining in a declared area.
• Rayann El Houli, 34, was charged in Melbourne with similar offenses after returning from Syria via Lebanon in September 2025. Police stated evidence obtained from the returns in May 2026 was critical to charging her.

War Crimes / Slavery Offenses

• Kawsar Abbas (also known as Kawsar Ahmad), 54, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad (also known as Zeinab Ahmed), 31, were charged at Melbourne Airport with crimes against humanity, including enslavement, possessing a slave, and slave trading.
• Allegations: Police allege the family purchased a Yazidi teenager for $10,000 USD in Syria in 2017 and kept her as a slave in their home. The teenager reportedly testified she was treated badly and forced to perform housework. Kawsar Abbas was granted bail in June 2026. Zeinab Ahmad was denied bail in a separate court hearing the same month.

Government Stance and Statements

The Australian Government has maintained a position of not facilitating the repatriation of these citizens.

"If you make your bed, you lie in it."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly stated the government would not assist or provide support to the group, expressing "contempt" for the women who traveled to Syria to support IS.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the government is legally obligated to issue passports to citizens. He stated the government provided no direct assistance for their return and warned that returnees who broke the law would face "the full force of the law." A Temporary Exclusion Order was issued for one woman (Hodan Abby) in February 2026, which was later lifted, allowing her return.

Opposition parties criticized the government for allowing the women to return, calling for stronger measures to block their re-entry and proposing legislation to criminalize assisting their return.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed that evidence was gathered over more than a decade, and investigations into potential offenses, including terrorism and slavery, remain active for all adult returnees.

Reactions and Community Impact

The return of the women and children has generated significant political debate in Australia. Some community leaders and advocacy groups, including Save the Children Australia, called for repatriation on humanitarian grounds, particularly for the children.

Members of the Yazidi community in Australia expressed fear and concern about the return of individuals accused of slavery and involvement with IS.