The long-anticipated return of a group of six women and their 14 children from Syria is set to occur tomorrow afternoon as they are scheduled to arrive in Sydney. This follows their departure from the Al-Roj detention camp late last week, with an initial stop in Damascus before heading to Australia.
Among these women, one was apprehended upon arrival in Sydney and now faces charges related to terrorism. Specifically, she is accused of entering a prohibited area and belonging to a terrorist organization.
In Melbourne, two additional women were detained, facing allegations of slavery offenses purportedly committed during their stay in Syria.
These women, who left Australia over a decade ago to join their ISIS-affiliated partners, have navigated a complex path to return home. Since the downfall of ISIS, they, along with their children, have been residing in refugee camps in northeastern Syria. Earlier this year, they made an unsuccessful attempt to leave the camp and return to Australia.
The Australian government previously orchestrated the repatriation of other women and children from the Al-Roj camp, with groups returning in 2019 and 2022.
Australia repatriated two other groups of women and children who were living in the Al Roj camp in 2019 and 2022.
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