ISIS brides beg to be released into the community after being locked up on arrival in AustraliaTwo Islamic State-linked women arrested and charged with slavery offences hours after returning from a Syrian refugee camp are seeking release into the community.Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and Zeinab Ahmad, 31, will make an application for bail on Monday in Melbourne Magistrates Court following a brief court appearance on Friday, when they were remanded in custody.

The duo were among a larger group of women and children who returned to Australia on Thursday amid chaotic airport scenes after languishing in a Syrian refugee camp for years.They have both been charged with several crimes against humanity and slavery offences allegedly committed in Syria.Detectives allege Kawsar Ahmad, also known as Abbas, travelled to the region with her husband and children in 2014.

Police allege she was complicit in buying a female slave for $US10,000 and knowingly kept the woman in her home.She has been charged with enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave and slave trading.Charge sheets released by the court allege the 53-year-old enslaved, possessed and used the slave in Mayadin, Hajin, Gharanji, Bahra, Abu Hamam, Walaa and other places in the Deir ez-Zu province of Syria between June 2017 and November 2018.

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Kawsar Ahmad, also known as Abbas, and Zeinab Ahmad will apply for bail on slavery chargesIt is alleged the younger Ahmad had also knowingly kept a female slave in her Syrian home, with police charging her with enslavement and using a slave offence over the same period.The document stated the pair’s conduct was “committed intentionally or knowingly as part of a widespread or systemic attack directed against a civil population”.

Police said the pair were detained by Kurdish forces in 2019 and held with other family members in the Al Roj Internally Displaced Persons camp.They are among three returnees charged following an almost decade-long investigation, which began after the women travelled to the Middle East with their partners, who allegedly intended to fight for Islamic State.

A third woman, 32-year-old Janai Safar, who flew into Sydney, was arrested and charged with entering a prohibited area and being a member of a terrorist organisation.She was denied bail due to the seriousness of the charges and will return before the court in July.

STRICT CONDITIONS. CONSTANT MONITORING. NO CLEAR END DATE…

The debate surrounding women who returned to Australia from detention camps in Syria has become one of the country’s most emotionally charged issues again this week. Several reports published by Australian media claim that some of the women are now asking authorities to loosen the severe restrictions imposed after their return. While government officials insist the measures are necessary for national security, critics argue the women are effectively living under permanent surveillance. The controversy has divided Australians, especially after new details emerged about the strict daily conditions some families allegedly face.

The women were brought back to Australia after spending years inside detention camps in northeastern Syria following the collapse of ISIS territory. Many arrived with children who were either born during the conflict or taken there at very young ages. Australian authorities said the repatriation operations were carefully planned with assistance from intelligence agencies and international partners. Officials emphasized that every returning adult would undergo security assessments and monitoring. However, the full extent of those restrictions was never clearly explained publicly until recent leaks triggered nationwide political debate.

According to multiple reports, some women allegedly cannot travel freely without notifying authorities in advance. Their communications are reportedly monitored, and surprise welfare or security visits may happen at any time. Some are believed to face limitations involving social media usage, financial access, and contact with certain individuals considered potential risks. Lawyers representing several families claim the restrictions create fear and isolation, especially for children attempting to rebuild normal lives. Human rights advocates say the situation resembles indefinite punishment without any publicly defined end date.

The backlash intensified after one support worker revealed that several women reportedly feel trapped despite technically being free. During a radio interview, the worker claimed some families are afraid to leave home because they worry every interaction will be watched or misunderstood. Others allegedly struggle to find employment or housing because of the stigma attached to their past. The interview quickly spread across social media platforms, where thousands of Australians debated whether compassion or security should take priority in these highly sensitive cases involving former ISIS-linked families returning home.

Government ministers have defended the strict approach, arguing that Australia cannot ignore the dangers associated with extremist networks. Counterterrorism officials insist the measures are designed to protect the public while helping authorities evaluate whether any ongoing security risks exist. Some experts believe the women may still possess connections or information relevant to extremist organizations operating internationally. Former intelligence officers appearing on Australian television warned that even small mistakes in monitoring could have devastating consequences. For that reason, security agencies say close supervision remains essential, even years after the collapse of ISIS territory.

Still, many Australians remain deeply uncomfortable with the situation for different reasons. Some citizens are angry that the women were allowed to return at all, arguing taxpayers should not support people once associated with extremist groups. Others believe the restrictions are excessive and may prevent rehabilitation entirely. Community organizations working with returned families say children are suffering the most because they often face bullying, suspicion, and emotional trauma. Teachers and counselors reportedly struggle to help some children adjust because their lives continue to be overshadowed by public controversy and security concerns.

Political pressure surrounding the issue has increased rapidly in Canberra. Opposition politicians are demanding more transparency from the federal government about exactly how the repatriation program operates. They want officials to reveal how many women remain under active monitoring, how long restrictions may continue, and what conditions must be met before controls are reduced. Critics also accuse the government of withholding information from the public to avoid political damage. Ministers reject those accusations, insisting sensitive operational details cannot always be disclosed because of ongoing national security considerations and legal privacy obligations.