‘ISIS brides’ on slavery charges will remain behind bars – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pexels)
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard no applications for bail today from two women facing serious charges over their alleged conduct in Syria. Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appeared in custody after years in a refugee camp and a lengthy police investigation. Their case forms part of a small group of Australians who returned from the conflict zone and now face prosecution for crimes committed far from home.
A Routine Appearance That Changed Little
The women entered the courtroom under escort and took their places in the dock. Kawsar wore a light brown head covering while Zeinab appeared in pink and white. Supporters watched from the public gallery as the brief proceeding unfolded without any formal request for release into the community.
Both women smiled at times and glanced toward the assembled reporters and observers. The absence of a bail application meant they returned to custody at the end of the short hearing, their immediate future unchanged.
Allegations Rooted in Years Spent in Syria
Police allege the pair travelled to the region in 2014 with family members. Court documents claim Kawsar bought a woman for the equivalent of $10,000 and kept her as a slave across several towns in Deir ez-Zur province between mid-2017 and late 2018. The charges against her include enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave and slave trading.
Zeinab faces accusations of enslavement and using a slave over the same period. Prosecutors say both women acted knowingly as part of a wider pattern of crimes against civilians. The allegations stem from an investigation that began almost a decade ago after the women left Australia with partners who reportedly intended to join Islamic State.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
Defence lawyers indicated fresh bail applications will be lodged soon. Zeinab’s matter is listed for June 4 and 5, while Kawsar’s hearing is set for June 16 and 17. These dates give the women and their legal teams time to prepare arguments about why they should be released pending trial.
A third woman, 32-year-old Janai Safar, who arrived in Sydney, faces separate charges of entering a prohibited area and membership of a terrorist organisation. She was refused bail earlier and is due back in court in July. The three cases together mark the first prosecutions of returnees from the Syrian camps.
Life After the Refugee Camp
The two women were among a larger group of Australians and their children who were brought home from the Al Roj camp in northern Syria. They had been held there by Kurdish authorities since 2019. Their return drew public attention at the time because of the chaotic scenes at Australian airports and the long wait many families endured in the camps.
Since arriving, the women have remained in custody while police finalised the slavery and crimes-against-humanity charges. The proceedings highlight the complex task of bringing people back from a war zone and then holding them accountable for actions alleged to have taken place thousands of kilometres away.
What Comes Next for the Accused
The upcoming bail hearings will test whether the court views the women as suitable for release under strict conditions. Any decision will weigh the seriousness of the allegations against factors such as family ties, time already spent in custody and the risk of flight.
Whatever the outcome, the cases continue to draw scrutiny to Australia’s handling of citizens who travelled to conflict zones and later sought to return. The legal process now moves into a new phase with fresh arguments expected in the coming weeks.
