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Australian Police Arrest Slavery Suspects Over $10K Purchase

5/8/2026

48 10 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Australian Federal Police allege Kawsar Abbas bought a female slave for US$10,000 in the al-Roj camp in Syria.
May 7, 2026, Kawsar Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed, Janai Safar were arrested at Melbourne and Sydney airports after arriving from Doha.
The women face up to 25 years for slavery and up to 10 years for terrorism.
Save the Children urged government to prioritize children, two-thirds of the 34-person group from al-Roj.

History

Historical Context

In 2000 the UN General Assembly adopted the Palermo Protocol, which entered into force on 25 December 2003 and has 185 parties (July 2025). Under UNODC guidance the protocol criminalises buying slaves, a basis the Australian Federal Police used to arrest Kawsan Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed and Janai Safar at al-Roj camp. Save the Children warns that weak enforcement will keep the profit motive alive.

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Story summary

Australian Federal Police allege Kawsar Abbas bought a female slave for US$10,000 in the al-Roj camp in Syria.
May 7, 2026, Kawsar Abbas, Zeinab Ahmed, Janai Safar were arrested at Melbourne and Sydney airports after arriving from Doha.
The women face up to 25 years for slavery and up to 10 years for terrorism.
Save the Children urged government to prioritize children, two-thirds of the 34-person group from al-Roj.

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