Two Women Charged in Australia Over Alleged Enslavement After Syria Return

Two Australian women have been charged with serious offences including enslavement and slave trading, following their return from Syria. This is a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
By Newsroom | Crime, Australia |

Melbourne, Australia – August 5, 2026 – Two Australian women, Kawsar Abbas, 54, and Zeinab Ahmed, 31, have been formally charged with serious offences related to alleged enslavement and slave trading. The charges stem from allegations concerning the treatment of individuals while the women were affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

============Kawsar Abbas faces charges for possessing a slave and engaging in slave trading, with details suggesting a potential transaction of '$10,000 for a slave'. Zeinab Ahmed is charged with enslavement and using a slave. Both women, alongside a third, Zahra, reportedly travelled to Syria to join Muhammad Ahmed, Zeinab's husband.============

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The women arrived at Melbourne Airport on Thursday evening, having departed from the Al Roj camp in Syria. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have characterized the investigation as active and involving "very serious allegations". Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism, Stephen Nutt, acknowledged the complexities of securing convictions in such cases, citing concerns previously raised regarding the difficulty of prosecuting crimes committed abroad.

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The charges surface amid harrowing accounts from individuals who claim to have been held as slaves within the ISIS caliphate. One individual, identified only as Mohammed Ahmad in one report, has denied allegations of keeping Yazidi women as slaves, while another individual's statement reads, "I was their slave and they could do whatever they wanted to me."

This development unfolds against the backdrop of broader shifts in Syria. Following nearly 13 years of civil conflict, the regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed on December 8, 2024, with reports indicating his flight to Moscow after rebels captured Damascus. This marked an end to his family's 53-year rule, ushering in a period of political transition, humanitarian concerns, and reconstruction efforts in the war-torn country.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why were two Australian women charged after returning from Syria?
Kawsar Abbas, 54, and Zeinab Ahmed, 31, have been charged with serious offences related to alleged enslavement and slave trading. These charges are linked to their time with the Islamic State group in Syria.
Q: What specific charges do the women face?
Kawsar Abbas faces charges for possessing a slave and slave trading, with one report mentioning a transaction of $10,000 for a slave. Zeinab Ahmed is charged with enslavement and using a slave.
Q: When did the women return to Australia and what is the status of the investigation?
The women arrived at Melbourne Airport on Thursday, August 1, 2026, having departed from the Al Roj camp in Syria. The Australian Federal Police are conducting an active investigation into these very serious allegations.
Q: What is the context of these charges in Syria?
The charges come amid accounts from individuals claiming to have been held as slaves within the former ISIS caliphate. The situation in Syria is complex, following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.