Australian woman charged after returning from Syrian camp

A 34-year-old Australian woman has been charged with terrorism offences after returning to the country from a Syrian refugee camp last year. Authorities allege she travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group and entered a declared conflict zone.

The woman, who is expected to appear in a Melbourne court, faces two charges: entering or remaining in a declared area and being a member of a terrorist organisation. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The Australian Federal Police stated she travelled to Syria between 2013 and 2014 with others, including a man who is now believed to be imprisoned in the Middle East.

According to police, Kurdish forces detained the woman in March 2019. She was subsequently held with family members at the al-Hawl camp in northeast Syria before returning to Australia from Lebanon in September. Police said she returned with another 36-year-old woman, who also remains under investigation.

The charges are part of a broader investigative effort by Australian authorities concerning citizens who travelled to Syria during the Islamic State caliphate's reign. A joint counter-terrorism operation, known as Operation Kurrajong,...