Bodies of Saudi sisters found in Sydney repatriated

The bodies of two Saudi sisters found dead in their apartment in Australia in June have been repatriated to Saudi Arabia.

Asra and Amaal Alsehli, aged 23 and 24 respectively, were found in their beds in their Sydney suburbs apartment on 7 June. Their deaths so far remain unexplained.

Their bodies were repatriated sometime last week, New South Wales Police have said. The sisters were buried in their country of origin according to Islamic traditions.

While the family has not yet made a public comment, it is understood their parents have remained in contact with the police.

Australian police have called for more information as the investigation into their deaths continue.

The sisters were seeking asylum in Australia but their applications for permanent protection had been rejected.

They were found by officers conducting a welfare check after they failed to pay a month's rent and mail piled up at their front door. The women had been dead for "some time" when found, police said.

There were no signs of forced entry into the flat, and no signs of injury on the women, whose decaying bodies were found in separate bedrooms - but police said they were treating the deaths as suspicious.

A source close to the sisters said one had applied for asylum on the grounds that she was a lesbian, and the other that she was an atheist, according to 7 News.

The revelation comes after they reportedly told acquaintances at a January event that gay women "live in fear" in Saudi Arabia.