The repatriated widow of an Islamic State fighter has been charged for previously entering parts of Syria that were under the control of the terrorist organisation.
The NSW woman, who returned to Australia last year, is accused of travelling to Syria in 2014 to join her husband. He left the country in 2013 and joined Islamic State.
It will be alleged in court the woman knew about her husband’s activities and willingly travelled to the conflict region – where her husband is believed to have died in 2018.
She was in the al-Roj internally displaced persons camp in north-east Syria until she was repatriated back to Australia in October 2022.
Since her return, she has been living in the regional town of Young in NSW’s South West Slopes region.
The woman has been charged following a “complex and long-term investigation” by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT).
The JCTT said the probe began when the woman was in Syria and continued following her return to Australia.
It will be alleged newly obtained evidence enabled the JCTT to charge the woman.
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AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command Sandra Booth said the JCTT will continue to investigate Australians returning from conflict areas.
“Individuals will be brought before the courts when evidence supports allegations that returned individuals have committed offences in conflict areas,” Booth said.
NSW Police Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, added the priority NSW JCTT has “zero tolerance” for anyone “who seek(s) to commit acts of violence or extremism”.
The NSW JCTT is comprised of officers from the AFP, NSW Police Force, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, and the NSW Crime Commission.
Authorities have said there is no current or impending threat to the Australian community as part of this activity.
The woman is expected to face Wagga Wagga Local Court via audio-visual link tomorrow, charged with entering, or remaining in, declared areas, contrary to section 119.2 of the Criminal Code.
