The father of a woman labeled as an “ISIS bride” recently returned to Australia with a group of women and children allegedly affiliated with the terrorist organization. He believes his daughter erred but should not be prosecuted by local authorities.
Zakaria Zahab, father of Nesrine Zahab, shared his relief and gratitude for his daughter’s reunion with their family in Sydney’s southwestern suburbs, just in time for the Eid celebrations.
“I am deeply thankful to the Australian government; it truly is the best country in the world,” he expressed to 9News.
Upon arrival in Sydney, one of the women was apprehended and faced terrorism-related charges, including entering a restricted zone and membership in a terrorist group.
In Melbourne, two additional women were arrested and accused of slavery-related offenses allegedly committed during their stay in Syria.
These women, who journeyed to Syria over a decade ago to join their ISIS-affiliated partners, have endured significant challenges in their repatriation to Australia.
The women and their children have been held in refugee camps in north-eastern Syria for years, following the collapse of ISIS, and recently failed in an attempt to leave the camp for Australia earlier this year.
Australia repatriated two other groups of women and children who were living in the Al Roj camp in 2019 and 2022.
