The group, comprising seven women and 12 children, was scheduled to arrive in Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday, according to Australian officials. Their return follows the repatriation earlier this month of another group of 13 Australians from the same region, some of whom were subsequently charged with terrorism-related offenses.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said law enforcement and intelligence agencies had spent years preparing for such returns and would closely monitor those arriving.

“Anyone who has committed crimes can expect to face the full force of the law,” Burke said in a statement, emphasizing that community safety remained the government’s primary concern.

The minister added that the government had not provided assistance for the latest group’s travel arrangements, describing the individuals as people who had chosen to associate with a terrorist organization and place their children in dangerous circumstances.

The returnees were being held in Roj Camp, a detention facility in northeastern Syria near the Iraqi border that has housed women and children associated with Daesh since the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.

Following the departure of the latest group, at least two Australian nationals are expected to remain at the camp. One woman subject to a temporary exclusion order, a legal mechanism designed to delay the return of high-risk citizens for up to two years, was not among those traveling back to Australia.

The repatriations highlight the continuing challenge facing governments around the world as they deal with citizens who traveled to territories once controlled by Daesh. Australia introduced temporary exclusion orders in 2019 as part of broader legislation aimed at managing the return of suspected foreign fighters and their families.

Authorities have already demonstrated a willingness to pursue legal action against returnees. Three of the four women repatriated earlier this month were charged with slavery and terrorism-related offenses and remain in custody pending legal proceedings.
Among those charged were Kawsar Ahmed, also known as Kawsar Abbas, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmed, who were arrested upon arrival in Melbourne over allegations connected to the purchase of a Yazidi woman held as a slave during Daesh’s rule.

Another returnee, Janai Safar, was detained in Sydney and charged with membership in a terrorist organization as well as entering or remaining in territory controlled by a terrorist group.
Australian governments have conducted several organized repatriation efforts since the collapse of Daesh’s self-declared caliphate, while other citizens have returned independently without official assistance.

The latest operation reflects Canberra’s continuing policy of bringing back women and children from Syrian detention camps while relying on criminal investigations, intelligence monitoring and court proceedings to address potential security risks posed by returning adults.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the operation targeted Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, whom he identified as the second-in-command of Daesh globally. Trump said the mission was conducted jointly with Nigerian forces following intelligence tracking the militant’s activities across Africa.

“Brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump said, adding that Al-Minuki “will no longer terrorize the people of Africa, or help plan operations to target Americans.”Trump did not specify where the operation occurred or whether it involved airstrikes, ground forces or drone attacks.

Nigerian authorities had not immediately issued a public statement detailing the mission.The United States sanctioned Al-Minuki in 2023, identifying him as a senior Daesh figure based in the Sahel region and part of the organization’s General Directorate of Provinces, the administrative structure responsible for coordinating operations and financing across multiple regions.

According to the US State Department, Al-Minuki played a role in providing operational guidance and funding support for Daesh affiliates operating in Africa and beyond.Nigeria has faced escalating militant violence from regional branches linked to Daesh as well as rival Islamist group Boko Haram.

Nigerian security forces have also been engaged in operations against heavily armed criminal gangs known locally as “bandits.”Washington has increased military cooperation with Nigeria since late 2025 amid growing US concerns about the expansion of Islamist insurgencies across West Africa and the Sahel.

On Christmas Day last year, US and Nigerian forces conducted joint airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting fighters from the Islamic State in the Sahel Province, a Daesh affiliate active across parts of Niger and northwestern Nigeria.

Since then, hundreds of US personnel have reportedly been deployed to Nigeria to assist with intelligence sharing, military training and counterterrorism coordination.

Trump thanked the Nigerian government for what he described as its “partnership” in the latest operation, saying the removal of Al-Minuki had significantly weakened Daesh’s international network.

National broadcaster ABC reported that four Australian women and nine of their children and grandchildren departed Roj Camp on Friday, citing the camp’s director, with Syrian authorities transporting them to Damascus to facilitate onward travel to Australia.

The Australian government said it was not involved in the operation and maintained its long-standing policy against actively repatriating individuals from such camps.“The Australian Government is not and will not repatriate people from Syria,” a government spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson added that intelligence and security agencies were continuing to monitor developments closely and were prepared for any Australians who attempted to return independently.

“People in this cohort need to know that if they have committed a crime and if they return to Australia they will be met with the full force of the law,” the statement said.Canberra said its “overriding priority” remained the safety of Australians and the protection of national interests, reflecting ongoing political sensitivity surrounding the possible return of families linked to members of the extremist group Daesh.

Roj Camp, located in northeastern Syria, houses women and children associated with suspected Daesh fighters following the collapse of the group’s territorial control in Iraq and Syria.

The families reported this week are believed to be part of a group of 34 Australians who were unable to leave the camp during a failed repatriation attempt in February, reportedly due to coordination issues involving Syrian authorities.

At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would not provide assistance, using the phrase: “You make your bed, you lie in it,” to describe Canberra’s position.The return of Daesh-linked families has remained highly divisive in Australia, with some lawmakers and security officials warning that repatriation could create long-term domestic security risks.

Humanitarian organizations, however, have argued that women and especially children trapped in the camps face deteriorating living conditions, legal limbo, and prolonged statelessness.In 2023, Save the Children Australia filed legal action on behalf of 11 women and 20 children in Roj Camp, seeking government intervention to secure their return.

Australia’s Federal Court ruled against the group, finding that the government did not exercise legal control over the detainees’ confinement in Syria and therefore was not obligated to repatriate them.

Australia has previously repatriated some women and children from Syrian detention camps under earlier operations, but officials have remained cautious, balancing humanitarian concerns against domestic political and security pressures.

The latest developments suggest that any return of Australian citizens from Roj Camp will likely proceed without direct government facilitation, under close scrutiny from law enforcement and intelligence agencies upon arrival.

Survivors of torture from multiple regions are advocating for the adoption of a new international framework aimed at strengthening accountability, rehabilitation, and recognition, as the United Nations intensifies efforts to address gaps in justice systems worldwide.

The proposed Charter of Rights of Victims and Survivors of Torture, developed over three years through consultations and regional hearings, was presented at the 61st session of the Human Rights Council in March 2026 by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards.

The document outlines standards intended to guide states in addressing the long-term consequences of torture, with a focus on survivor participation and access to justice.The charter draws on more than 120 submissions from survivors globally and reflects recurring patterns identified across different regions.

According to Edwards, survivors frequently face a second phase of hardship after the abuse itself, marked by difficulties in securing recognition, accessing healthcare, and navigating complex legal systems.“Many described a second struggle: to be believed, to access care, to navigate complex institutions, and to obtain legal recognition,” Edwards said, adding that institutional barriers often prolong suffering rather than alleviate it.

The initiative has been supported by organizations working with survivors, including those funded through the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. It seeks to shift the focus of anti-torture frameworks toward long-term recovery and systemic reform, rather than solely prohibition and punishment.

For survivors such as Shireen Khudeeda, a Yazidi woman abducted during the 2014 attacks by Islamic State in Iraq’s Sinjar region, the consequences of torture extend far beyond physical harm. Held in captivity for three years and subjected to severe abuse, Khudeeda now advocates for justice, including the identification of mass graves and support for affected communities.

“Sometimes when it’s physical you can treat it, but torture in your soul you can never heal it,” she said, reflecting on the enduring psychological impact of her experience.More than a decade after the attacks, many Yazidi families remain without closure, with missing relatives yet to be accounted for.

Khudeeda said that even when answers emerge, they can reignite trauma, citing the identification of her father’s remains as a moment that brought both confirmation and renewed grief.In Mexico, Italia Méndez, a survivor of sexual torture during a 2006 police operation in San Salvador Atenco, continues to pursue justice nearly two decades after the events. Her case, along with those of other women, was recognized by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2018.

Despite this ruling, Méndez said access to adequate medical care and reparations remains limited.“We have a binding judgment and yet we still have not been able to access even the most basic thing, which is dignified and specialised medical care,” she said, describing ongoing challenges in receiving treatment for the long-term effects of torture.

Méndez emphasized that her advocacy is collective, reflecting a broader effort by survivors to prevent recurrence and address systemic impunity. She said continued legal action remains necessary to secure accountability and meaningful redress.In Burundi, Donatien Ndabigeze, a survivor of political violence linked to the 2015 crisis, has pursued justice through international mechanisms.

His case was recognized by the UN Committee Against Torture, which found the state responsible for violations. Ndabigeze said the decision affirmed the severity of the abuses and underscored the importance of international accountability mechanisms.“My case is not only personal; it reflects the situation of many Burundians,” he said, adding that access to justice often requires engagement beyond national systems when domestic remedies are unavailable.

The experiences of these survivors illustrate broader structural challenges identified in the charter. Edwards noted that justice processes are often fragmented and slow, with accountability typically achieved through cumulative efforts involving documentation, litigation, and sustained advocacy.“Accountability rarely happens through a single dramatic moment. It is usually cumulative,” she said.

The charter emphasizes that survivors should play an active role in shaping policies and institutions designed to address torture. It calls for their inclusion not only as witnesses but as stakeholders in decision-making processes, reflecting a shift toward participatory approaches in human rights governance.“Survivors are not merely witnesses to atrocity.

They are rights-holders, advocates and architects of positive change,” Edwards said, cautioning against tokenistic engagement that limits participation to symbolic gestures.For Méndez, the initiative represents a significant step toward recognizing the expertise of survivors. She said incorporating their perspectives into policy design is essential to ensuring that justice mechanisms are responsive and effective.

The charter outlines key areas for reform, including ensuring access to rehabilitation services, strengthening legal recognition, preventing re-traumatization, and establishing safeguards to avoid recurrence. It also underscores the need for systems that restore dignity and rebuild trust between individuals and institutions.

Khudeeda said that speaking out is a necessary part of that process, particularly for communities that have experienced large-scale atrocities. “Because we lost everything, there is nothing else to lose,” she said, describing advocacy as a means of demanding accountability and recognition.

Ndabigeze similarly highlighted the importance of visibility, noting that survivor testimony can challenge societal silence and bring attention to the human impact behind statistical data.The charter is intended as a practical framework for states, with proponents urging governments to adopt and implement its provisions.

Edwards said that embedding survivor perspectives into policy design could improve both prevention and response mechanisms.“If the Charter were implemented, survivors would no longer feel invisible,” she said, adding that timely access to rehabilitation and meaningful participation would strengthen trust in institutions.The initiative comes amid broader international efforts to enhance accountability for human rights violations and improve support systems for victims. By centring the experiences of survivors, the charter aims to address longstanding gaps in justice systems and reinforce global commitments to preventing torture and supporting those affected by it.

“Justice after torture restores dignity — and only when trust is rebuilt can societies prosper and thrive,” Edwards said.

A British woman convicted on terrorism-related charges after traveling to Syria has described her trajectory from personal vulnerability and radicalisation to imprisonment and eventual reintegration into society, offering a detailed account of the personal, legal and social consequences of her actions.

The woman, identified as Shakil, said her early life was marked by instability, including regular visits to her father in prison. She described a determination during adolescence to pursue a different path, excelling academically and enrolling at university to study psychology.

However, at age 20, she entered into a relationship that she said quickly became controlling. Within a year, she had married and left her studies.Shakil stated that the relationship resulted in social isolation and restricted communication, including periods during which she did not have access to a phone.

She distanced herself from family members, citing fear of disclosing her circumstances. During this period, she became involved with individuals who facilitated her travel to Syria via Turkey. She later told authorities that she concealed the truth from her family out of concern that she would lose access to her child.

Following her return, Shakil was released on bail and allowed limited contact with her son. She described this period as the most difficult phase of her life, marked by severe emotional distress and close monitoring by family members concerned about her safety.

After several months, she was formally charged with joining the Islamic State group and encouraging acts of terrorism, based on digital communications and social media activity during her time in Syria.In court proceedings, prosecutors presented messages in which Shakil expressed support for extremist causes and encouraged others to join her.

One message indicated a desire to die as a martyr. Additional evidence included photographs recovered from her phone, among them an image of her young child holding an assault rifle. Shakil denied the charges, arguing that she had not formally joined the group and that her actions were influenced by coercion and surveillance within Syria.

The presiding judge rejected her account, citing inconsistencies in her statements and the nature of the evidence. The court emphasized the risks posed to her child, including exposure to extremist ideology. Shakil was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to six years in prison.

Her case unfolded against the broader backdrop of the territorial defeat of Islamic State, marked by the fall of Baghouz in March 2019. Around the same time, another British national, Shamima Begum, re-emerged in a refugee camp.

Begum had left the United Kingdom as a minor and later became the subject of international attention when her citizenship was revoked by the British government on national security grounds. Authorities argued that she was eligible for citizenship elsewhere through her family, a claim that has been contested in ongoing legal proceedings.

Shakil drew a distinction between her own case and that of Begum, while acknowledging similarities in their circumstances. She expressed the view that Begum had been groomed as a minor, but argued that differences in their experiences, including the duration of time spent in Syria, shaped their respective outcomes.

Following her conviction, Shakil served approximately half of her sentence, including time spent on remand, before being released under strict probation conditions. These included geographic restrictions, limits on contact with family members, electronic monitoring, and a curfew.

Despite these constraints, she secured employment in multiple roles, including cleaning, hospitality and administrative work, often holding more than one job simultaneously.After completing her probationary period in 2021, Shakil began to speak publicly about her experiences.

She participated in a documentary and media appearances aimed at raising awareness about online grooming and radicalisation. She described her actions as the result of vulnerability and manipulation, while acknowledging public skepticism regarding such claims.

Efforts to establish a charitable initiative focused on educating young people about extremism did not materialize, which she attributed in part to a lack of public trust. She continued to receive negative reactions online but indicated that such responses did not significantly affect her.

In the years following her release, Shakil reported gradual improvements in her personal circumstances. Contact with her son was eventually restored, and she described rebuilding relationships with family and establishing a stable social network. By 2024, she indicated that she had reached a level of stability that had previously seemed unattainable.

More recently, she has used social media platforms to engage with audiences on topics including relationships, self-esteem and personal development. While she does not regularly discuss her past, she views her current lifestyle and public presence as part of a broader effort to demonstrate the possibility of rehabilitation.

Shakil remains subject to long-term monitoring requirements and continues to report regularly to law enforcement authorities, a condition that will remain in place until 2034. She stated that she accepts these measures as part of the consequences of her actions.

Her account reflects the intersection of personal vulnerability, extremist recruitment, legal accountability and reintegration challenges, illustrating the long-term implications of involvement in conflict zones and proscribed organisations.

Malaysian Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that the suspects were not only propagating extremist beliefs but were also involved in establishing clandestine recruitment cells aimed at indoctrinating members of their community with radical ISIS-aligned ideology.

Out of the 36 individuals detained, five have been formally charged under Chapter VIA of Malaysia’s Penal Code, which deals with terrorism-related offenses. Their cases are currently being heard in the Shah Alam and Johor Bahru Sessions Courts. Another 15 were handed deportation orders, while 16 remain under investigation by Malaysian authorities.

Extremist Plot Uncovered

Authorities say the group was collecting funds to support terrorist activities and aimed to destabilize the legitimate government in Bangladesh. The suspects reportedly operated under the guise of migrant workers while covertly pursuing militant objectives.

Minister Saifuddin stressed that Malaysia would not allow itself to be used as a staging ground for extremist plots originating from abroad. “Any attempts to make Malaysia a base for militant operations or a transit centre for extremism movements will be tackled with firm, quick, and effective action,” he said in a press briefing.

This warning comes amid growing concerns that radicalized foreign nationals may exploit Malaysia’s migrant and refugee communities to establish operational footholds.

A Longstanding Battle Against Extremism

The arrests were carried out by the Royal Malaysia Police’s Special Branch in a coordinated intelligence-led operation. Malaysia has a well-documented history of preemptively disrupting terror cells, particularly those with ties to ISIS and other global jihadist networks.

This latest operation reaffirms Malaysia’s zero-tolerance policy toward extremism, while also shining a light on the vulnerabilities within its migrant population. The country, which is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has come under scrutiny from human rights organizations for its treatment of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Many are held in immigration detention centres, often without access to formal refugee status determination procedures.

Balancing Security and Humanitarian Concerns

While Malaysia maintains the right to protect its national security, human rights advocates warn that genuine asylum seekers may be at risk of arbitrary detention or deportation if broader crackdowns conflate refugees with foreign extremists. The Home Minister’s comments indicate an effort to strike a balance between humanitarian concerns and safeguarding the nation from infiltration by extremist groups.

The incident also raises wider regional concerns about the spread of ISIS ideology within Southeast Asia’s migrant corridors, particularly involving vulnerable populations susceptible to radicalization.

As regional governments grapple with the post-ISIS era and the decentralized nature of global jihadist networks, Malaysia’s recent action signals a warning: South and Southeast Asia must remain vigilant against the silent resurgence of extremist ideologies operating under the radar.

The arrested individuals, all hailing from Pune, were taken into custody as the NIA teams conducted simultaneous searches in various cities. In Karnataka, the raids were underway at several locations, while in Maharashtra, the operation targeted areas in Pune, Thane Rural, Thane City, and Mira Bhayandar.

According to sources within the NIA, the investigation has uncovered a larger conspiracy with international connections, indicating the involvement of foreign-based ISIS handlers in the case. The agency believes that the arrested individuals were part of a complex network dedicated to propagating the extremist ideology of ISIS within India.

The investigation revealed that the network had taken an oath of allegiance, known as Bayath, to the self-styled Khalifa (leader) of ISIS. Moreover, the individuals were found to be involved in the fabrication of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The agency suspects that the network had plans to carry out acts of terrorism on Indian soil.

The NIA’s operation underscores the seriousness with which security agencies are approaching the threat of terrorism and the efforts being made to dismantle such networks. The agency’s swift action in apprehending the individuals involved in this ISIS terror conspiracy will undoubtedly serve as a deterrent to others with similar intentions.

The NIA has been at the forefront of counterterrorism efforts in India, consistently working towards identifying and neutralizing threats posed by terrorist organizations. The agency’s focus on uncovering international connections and the involvement of foreign handlers in this case highlights the global nature of the ISIS threat and the need for international cooperation to combat terrorism effectively.

As the investigation progresses, the NIA is expected to gather further evidence and interrogate the arrested individuals to dismantle the entire network and bring all those involved to justice.

It used the same MQ-9 drones in the attack that had “earlier in the day been harassed by Russian aircraft in an encounter that had lasted almost two hours”, it said in a statement.

“U.S. Central Command conducted a strike in Syria that resulted in the death of Usamah al-Muhajir, an ISIS leader in eastern Syria,” it said without giving any more details on al-MuhajrWashington has in the last year stepped up raids and operations against suspected ISIS operatives in Syria, killing and arresting various of its leaders who had taken shelter in areas under Turkey-backed rebel control after the group lost its last territory in Syria in 2019.

The U.S.-led campaign which killed former ISIS head Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, who had declared himself the “caliph of all Muslims”, has since targeted its surviving leaders, many of whom are thought to have planned attacks abroad.

U.S. military commanders say ISIS remains a significant threat within the region, however, though its capabilities have been degraded and its ability to re-establish its network weakened.

Islamic State controlled one-third of Iraq and Syria at its peak in 2014. Though it was beaten back in both countries, its militants continue to wage insurgent attacks.

The Khorasan Diary tweeted on Sunday that, “A local Salafi Scholar, Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Abdul Aziz was shot dead by unknown armed men in Bara, Khyber Tribal District while on the way from the mosque to his home. Local sources say the scholar had an anti-Daish view point articulated through his sermons”.

ISIS-caliphate emerged during 2014 in Syria and Iraq under Abubakar Baghdadi. Soon its ideology spread across the nations.

It operates in Pakistan under the name The Islamic State – Khorasan Province (ISKP). The organization was formed in January 2015 by former Taliban members in the eastern Afghanistan. ISKP’s membership includes terrorists from various countries notably Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

Salafis deem ISIS as ‘Khawarij’ which technically means ‘Renegades’. Salafi scholars such as Shaykh Saleh Al-Fawzan and the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Abdul-Aziz Aal-e-Shaykh gave fatwa that ISIS are Khawarij, and anyone who associates and engages with them is deviant.

Khawarij was the initial group of terrorists in the Islamic history, who emerged during the time of third caliph of Islam Uthman Al-Affan. They rebelled against the state and called for an armed struggle against the government. They assassinated the authorities of their time.

The slain Imam Abdul Aziz was warning the Muslims against ISIS, that resulted in his murder.

During interrogation, the captured ISIS recruit said that he was meant to get supplies in India so that he could “conduct a terrorist assault at the IS’ command for insult to Prophet Muhammad”.

Authority said in a statement, “Russia’s FSB identified and detained a member of the Islamic State international terrorist organization banned in Russia, a native of a country in the Central Asian region, who planned to commit a terrorist act by blowing himself up against one of the representatives of the ruling circles of India”.

The captured ISIS bomber was recruited in Turkey between April and June of this year, according to the Russian security agency, and his brainwashing was done remotely through the Telegram app.

According to a statement from the Russian security agency, “It has been proven that a foreign national was recruited as a suicide bomber by one of the ITO ‘IS’ leaders between the months of April and June 2022 while on Turkish soil. A representative of the terrorist group personally met with him in Istanbul and also indoctrinated him remotely via Telegram channels”.

FSB added, “As a result, the terrorist took an oath of allegiance to the Amir of IS. After that, he was given the task of leaving for Russia and completing the necessary documents and flying to India to commit a high-profile terrorist act”.

The Islamic State (IS) and all of its manifestations have been declared terrorist organizations by the central government, and are included in the First Schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967.

The Union Home Ministry sais that ISIS spreads its ideology through a variety of online social media channels. The relevant agencies are closely monitoring cyberspace in this regard, and appropriate legal action is taken.