Australian women charged with slavery after return from Syria, alleged Daesh links

• Australian authorities charge two women with slavery and terrorism offences after return from Syria-linked Daesh camps

Australian authorities have charged two women with slavery and crimes against humanity following their return from Syria, where they had been detained in a refugee camp for several years after the collapse of Daesh.

Police allege the women, aged 53 and 31, were involved in keeping and using a slave while living in Syria after travelling there in 2014 with their families. The charges include slavery-related offences that carry a maximum penalty of up to 25 years in prison.

According to the Australian Federal Police, the women were arrested at Melbourne Airport shortly after arriving back in the country. A separate woman, aged 32, was also detained at Sydney Airport and charged with terrorism-related offences, including allegedly joining Daesh in 2015.

Authorities say all three women were part of a group returning from Syrian detention camps holding individuals linked to Daesh. The group reportedly includes women and children who had spent years in camps such as al-Roj in northeastern Syria.

Investigators allege the women lived in territory once controlled by Daesh and were involved in serious abuses, including the enslavement of a woman during their time in Syria. The accused have not publicly commented on the allegations.

Australian Federal Police officials described the case as part of a long-running investigation into Australians who travelled to conflict zones in Syria and Iraq during the rise of Daesh.

The charges come amid renewed scrutiny of repatriation policies, as Australian citizens linked to extremist groups and their families are gradually returning from Syrian camps following the territorial defeat of Daesh.

Authorities stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges cannot be ruled out.