Australia charges 3 returnees with ISIS-linked crimes, HRW urges due process
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Australian authorities should ensure full respect for due process in cases against three women charged with serious ISIS-linked crimes after returning from detention camps in northeast Syria, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Friday.
The women were charged on May 7 and 8 after being repatriated from Syria’s Roj Camp and Damascus, where they had been detained for over seven years.
Two of the women face crimes against humanity charges over the alleged enslavement of Yazidi women during ISIS rule, and the third is accused of entering a declared conflict zone and joining ISIS. Australian media report some alleged victims now live in Australia.
“Crimes against humanity are grave international crimes and it’s important for Australian authorities to handle these cases appropriately right from the start,” said Daniela Gavshon, Australia director at HRW, who also stressed the need for support and trauma care for children affected by the prosecution of their mothers.
Under Australian law, crimes against humanity carry penalties of up to 25 years in prison.
The nine children did not choose to live under ISIS rule and endured prolonged detention. Some have been separated from their mothers after the charges, but authorities have not disclosed detailed plans for their long-term support.
The HRW cited research showing that children repatriated from ISIS-linked contexts can reintegrate successfully when given proper psychological and social assistance.
On May 7, the women and children arrived in Australia after their long wait in Damascus for travel approval. The group included adults and children who had never before set foot in Australia, and authorities warned some returnees could face arrest and prosecution on arrival.
According to previous reports, the Australian government had repatriated several citizens from camps in northeastern Syria in recent years, including women and children held in Roj camp, which is administered by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
The latest repatriation follows years of debate in Australia over how to handle citizens with ISIS ties held in Syrian camps, after previous returns and repeated calls from international organizations to repatriate vulnerable nationals facing prolonged limbo abroad.