Two Islamic-State linked Australian women charged with crimes against humanity

Three Australian women with links to the Islamic State (IS) group have been formally charged after returning home from Syria.Kawsar Ahmad, 53 and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31 will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, less than 24 hours after they were arrested at Melbourne airport.Abbas faces four charges of crimes against humanity with police alleging she went to Syria in 2014 and kept a female slave in her home. Ahmed faces two similar charges.In Sydney, Janai Safar, 32, is also due in court on Friday, charged with allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining IS. She was arrested and charged on Thursday after landing in Sydney with her son.The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege Kawsar Ahmad travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children, and was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000, "and knowingly kept the woman in the home".For Zeinab Ahmad, police allege she also travelled to Syria in 2014 with her family and knowingly kept a female slave in the home. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.Another of Kawsar Ahmad's adult children, Zahra Ahmad, also arrived in Melbourne on Thursday but was not detained.For Safar, police allege she travelled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband, who had previously left Australia and joined IS.