Last ISIS-linked Australian woman to return home, says government

Australia is set to welcome back the final woman with suspected ties to the Islamic State group, as her temporary exclusion order has expired. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed on June 25 that the unnamed woman, who has been held in a Syrian detention camp, can now return to Australia. She is the last of more than 30 women and children to come back from the squalid camps that housed families of jihadist fighters after the Islamic State's territorial defeat.

Burke stated that while the government has utilized legal measures to prevent her return, the exclusion order's expiration means Australia cannot legally bar her entry. However, she will be subjected to stringent security measures, including intense surveillance and restrictions on her electronic devices. "There will be a very high level of scrutiny and surveillance and we have gone to the legal limit that we’re able to," Burke said.

This repatriation comes as Australia, like other Western nations, continues to navigate the complex issue of dealing with citizens stranded in the Middle East. Earlier in 2026, three women were arrested upon their return and faced charges related to slavery and terrorism. The Australian Human Rights Commission has advocated for the government to assist in repatriating those still in Syrian detention camps, though public sentiment remains divided, with some believing these women should face the consequences of their choices.

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There will be a very high level of scrutiny and surveillance and we have gone to the legal limit that we’re able to.