Three women with links to Islamic State fighters will be charged by federal authorities with “crimes against humanity” after arriving back in Australia from Syria.

Four women, known as the so-called ISIS brides, and nine children touched down in Melbourne and Sydney on flights from Doha on Thursday evening.

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Two of the women, aged 53 and 31, were arrested on arrival into Melbourne International Airport on Thursday night and another one of the women, aged 32, was arrested at Sydney International Airport.

Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt confirmed the 53-year-old woman is expected to be charged overnight with four offences including crimes against humanity enslavement, crimes against humanity possess a slave, crimes against humanity use a slave, crimes against humanity engage in slave trade.

The 31-year-old woman will also be charged with crimes against humanity enslavement and crimes against humanity use a slave.

“These offences each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment,” Nutt said.

One of the women arriving at Mascot Police Station. Credit: 7NEWS

Flights arrived in Sydney and Melbourne. Credit: 7NEWS

Once charged, the women will face a Victorian court on Friday.

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The 32-year-old woman arrested in Sydney is expected to be charged with entering or remaining in a declared area and being a member of a terrorist organisation.

“Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment,” Nutt said.

She is also expected to appear before a Sydney court on Friday.

Nutt confirmed the charges for all of the women relate to activities in Syria.

“Operational planning for these matters started in 2015 and was later formalised under a coordination operation codename Kurrajong,” Nutt said.

Political debate as women, children arrive back in Australia

It comes as the federal government was earlier criticised for the handling of the return of the so-called ISIS brides and the nine children.

“The government should be doing everything it can to prevent them coming back to the country, and they haven’t,” Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said on Thursday.

A group of supporters surround an Islamic State-linked family as they arrive at Melbourne international Airport, in Melbourne, Thursday, May 7, 2026. Credit: AAP

The Australian government claims it didn’t assist the group returning here, other than to provide passports as it would any Australian citizen.

“These women have been under investigation now for, I think, the best part of 10 years,” Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said.

“This is not their first rodeo. The federal police have done this before.”

Uncertain future for children

For the nine children arriving back in Australia, they face a future of supervised care, community integration programs and resettlement at an undisclosed location.

“By all means, you want to imprison them, you want to put them in front of the courts, do so. However, I ask your viewers, what sin have the kids committed?” the Lebanese Muslim Association’s Gamel Kheir said.

“When we have murderers, we rehabilitate them. Why can’t we rehabilitate young kids?”

Mat Tinkler from Save the Children said, “some kids may need more targeted de-radicalisation, reintegration or mental health support.”

“I think it’s been handled very poorly overall. They deserve our support. They are innocent and they are Aussies at the end of the day,” Tinkler said.

A group of supporters surround an Islamic State-linked family as they arrive at Melbourne international Airport, in Melbourne, Thursday, May 7, 2026. Credit: AAP

NSW Premier Chris Minns agreed.

“The kids have got nothing to do with this,” he told reporters. “They didn’t make the decision to travel to Syria and the Middle East.”

Minns and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan both confirmed state police would help monitor the returnees.

“What I’m focused on is Victoria’s community safety and that is the priority of Victoria Police,” Allan said.