Source : Perth Now news
An alleged ISIS bride accused of owning a slave and exercising power over her has been denied bail.
Zeinab Ahmad, 31, had sought to be released back into the community during a two-day bail hearing in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court.
In denying bail on Wednesday, Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan said there was an “extremely high hurdle” for bail in Commonwealth offence.
Ms Ahmad and her mother Kawsar Ahmad, 54, were arrested and charged with slavery offences after arriving at Melbourne airport on May 7 after leaving a camp in Syria where they had been detained since 2019.
Prosecutors opposed the bail application, arguing Ms Ahmad poses an unacceptable risk to the safety and welfare of any persons
Ms Ahmad is facing two charges of enslavement and using a slave, committed “in circumstances where the conduct was committed intentionally or knowingly as part of a widespread or systemic attack directed against” the Yazidi community.
The court was told Australian Federal Police detective senior constable Marc Clendenning gave evidence that Ms Ahmed incited violence when she posted a statement saying “destroy the United States and its allies”.
Magistrate Hannan said defence had submitted that Ms Ahmad’s public rejection of Islamic State amounted to a “bridge burnt”.
Ms Ahmad’s defence also claimed a delay in court proceedings, potentially up to three years, would be inevitable which would constitute exceptional circumstances.
They also cited the impact of remand on the applicant’s daughter with a psychology report finding her daughter “meets the criteria for PTSD” which has recently intensified since being separated from her mother, a court was told.
Ms Ahmad’s uncle, Abraham Abbas had said he would financially support Ms Ahmad while she gets on her feet and she could reside at his home with his family.
He also said he would provide a $75,000 surety if Ms Ahmad were granted bail.
Magistrate Hannan said defence had submitted that Ms Ahmad’s public rejection of Islamic State amounted to a “bridge burnt”.
More to come
