Two Victorian women accused of keeping a female slave while living in Syria during the height of the Islamic State conflict have been charged with crimes against humanity offences after returning to Australia.
The women, aged 53 and 31, were arrested by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team after arriving at Melbourne Airport.
According to the Australian Federal Police, the older woman allegedly travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children and was involved in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000. Investigators allege she knowingly kept the woman in the family home and participated in slave trading activities.
She has been charged with multiple offences under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, including enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave and engaging in slave trading. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
Police allege the younger woman travelled to Syria with her family the same year and knowingly kept the same female slave in the household. She has been charged with enslavement and using a slave, offences which also carry maximum penalties of 25 years in prison.
Authorities said both women were detained by Kurdish forces in 2019 and held at the Al Roj camp alongside other family members before their return to Australia.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said Australian authorities had spent years investigating citizens who travelled to declared conflict zones in the Middle East. He said planning for the return of Australians from Syria and Iraq began in 2015 under an operation known as Kurrajong.
Nutt said Joint Counter Terrorism Teams had “methodically investigated” Australians linked to conflict areas and would continue to bring before the courts anyone suspected of criminal conduct. He described the allegations as “very serious” and said the investigation remained ongoing.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said protecting community safety remained the priority and that authorities would continue working with national security agencies to monitor individuals returning from overseas conflict regions.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
