Two Australian women linked to ISIS have been charged with slavery and membership of a terrorist organization in Melbourne [1], [2].

The case marks a significant legal effort to prosecute crimes against humanity committed abroad by citizens returning to Australia. Authorities are utilizing these charges to address the systemic exploitation that occurred within ISIS-controlled territories.

Kawsar Abbas and her daughter, Zeinab Ahmed, appeared in a Victoria court in May 2026 [3], [4]. The two women [5] are accused of participating in the enslavement of others, a charge classified as a crime against humanity [1], [2]. Specific allegations include the purchase of a teenage slave for £7,500 [6].

Legal proceedings regarding their release remain fluid. Some reports indicated a bail hearing was scheduled for the Monday following their initial appearance [4]. However, other reports said the bail bid was delayed while prosecutors sought additional materials [2].

The return of women who married ISIS fighters was viewed by officials as inevitable [3], [7]. This anticipation prompted Australian authorities to prepare prosecutions for severe human rights abuses, including slavery, rather than focusing solely on terrorism membership [3], [7].

Abbas and Ahmed are now facing the Australian judicial system to determine their accountability for actions taken during their time in Syria [1], [2]. The court must now weigh the evidence of human trafficking and enslavement against the defendants' requests for release.

“Two Australian women linked to ISIS have been charged with slavery and membership of a terrorist organization.”

This prosecution signals a shift in how Australia handles the repatriation of ISIS-affiliated citizens. By charging the women with slavery—a crime against humanity—rather than just terrorism membership, the government is establishing a legal precedent that domestic courts can and will prosecute gender-based and systemic human rights abuses committed in foreign conflict zones.