Australia approves permit for final ISIS bride to return

The Australian government has issued a permit for the final Australian woman linked to the Islamic State group, known as an "ISIS bride," to return home from Syria, despite previous national security concerns. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced the decision on Thursday, June 25, 2026, stating the woman and her child will be subject to intensive surveillance upon arrival.

The woman, identified in some reports as Hodan Abby, had been subject to a temporary exclusion order imposed in February 2026, which blocked her from returning to Australia for up to two years. She was prevented from boarding a flight from Damascus in May. Minister Burke explained that after the woman formally requested to return, the government received final advice that it could no longer legally maintain the exclusion condition. He stated that when a permit is requested under the order's framework, one must lawfully be issued.

The woman is part of a larger cohort of Australians who traveled to Syria during the rise of Islamic State. Others in the group returned earlier in 2026, with some now facing charges related to crimes against humanity. Advocates for the women have stated that some were coerced...