They’ve been charged with a mix of terrorism-related offences, slavery offences, and in some cases crimes against humanity. In the Australian cases reported this week, charges mentioned include keeping, using, or trafficking a slave, entering or remaining in a declared area, and membership of a terrorist organisation.

What that means

  • Slavery offences: allegations that a woman owned, kept, used, or traded a slave in Syria.
  • Terrorism offences: allegations tied to joining or supporting Islamic State, including being a member of a terrorist organisation or entering a declared area.
  • Crimes against humanity: in at least one reported case, prosecutors have also pursued charges linked to conduct in Syria.

Recent reporting

Recent Australian reporting says one returned woman was charged with slavery offences and granted bail, while other returnees have faced terrorism-related charges after coming back from Syria. The exact charges vary by person, so “ISIS brides” is not one single charge but a media label for multiple defendants with different allegations.

If you want, I can also break down the specific charges by person in a simple table.