Australian women return from syria after seven years of detention
Nineteen Australian women, many with children born in Syria or Iraq, are returning to Melbourne and Sydney this Tuesday after enduring seven years of captivity in Syria. The repatriation marks the end of a protracted and politically charged saga, thrusting the nation into a renewed debate about the fate of individuals who travelled to the former ISIS territory.
A gruesome choice, a traumatic reality
The cohort – comprised of twelve children and seven women – departed a Syrian detention camp last week, embarking on a long journey home. Most of these individuals had long since left Australia, or were born within the confines of the so-called caliphate, a stark testament to the enduring consequences of family ties forged in a brutal conflict.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that security agencies had been meticulously preparing for their return since 2014, outlining “longstanding plans in place to manage and monitor” the returning individuals. He emphasized that the children of IS-linked families must be treated as distinct individuals, shaped by profound trauma, and not as mere extensions of their parents’ actions.
“These are people who made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organization and to place their children in an unspeakable situation,” Burke stated. “Any members of this cohort who have committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law.” The government’s priority, he reiterated, remains the safety of the Australian community.
Among those expected to arrive in Sydney are Nesrine, Sumaya and Aminah Zahab, alongside Hyam Raad and their children. Aminah Zahab is the mother of Muhammad Zahab, previously identified by the ABC as a senior ISIS recruiter responsible for bringing over a dozen family members before his death in 2018. Her cousin, Nesrine Zahab, recounted her own harrowing experience, detailing how she and a female relative fled a holiday in Lebanon to assist refugees on the Turkish border, admitting with a grim irony that she unknowingly entered a war zone.
Kawsar Kanj, accompanied by five of her children – one now an adult – and Kirsty Rosse-Emile, with two children, are also part of the returning group. Kanj’s citizenship was controversially revoked in 2019 by then-Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, a decision subsequently overturned by the High Court. Her husband, Majed Raad, acquitted of involvement in the Pendennis terror plot nearly two decades ago, was held in Syria and remains unaccounted for. Rosse-Emile, 19 at the time of her departure, travelled with her husband, Nabil Kadmiry, and their children, who were born after their relocation.
Documents obtained by Guardian Australia revealed that Kanj’s citizenship was cancelled in 2019, and Kadmiry was captured in 2019. The families of these individuals have not responded to requests for comment. Mat Tinkler, CEO of Save the Children Australia, highlighted the urgent need for “wraparound health and psychosocial support” for the returning children, expressing disappointment at the “deeply disappointing” political debate surrounding their future. He insisted that Australia must prioritize the children's safety and citizenship rights, emphasizing that two-thirds of the returning group are minors.
This repatriation follows previous efforts to return Australian orphans in 2019 and a group of children and mothers in October 2022, with further returns in 2025 and last month involving nine children and their mothers. However, three of the women were arrested and charged upon their return. Tinkler called for the release of the remaining Australian woman in Syria, currently under a temporary exclusion order, and her daughter.
The Albanese government’s decision to prevent the woman’s return underscores the complexity of this situation, highlighting the enduring challenges faced by individuals entangled in international conflict. Australia’s response will undoubtedly shape the narrative surrounding these women and their children, demanding a measured and compassionate approach.