Kawsar Ahmad, 54, accused of slavery offences, was granted bail on Friday and subsequently escorted from Melbourne Magistrates Court by a police barricade into the arms of awaiting family members. The departure was marked by chaotic scenes as relatives shielded Ahmad from media attention.
Ahmad had spent two months in custody after returning to Australia with other family members of former Islamic State fighters. Prosecutors allege she migrated to Syria with her husband, Mohammed, and their children around January 2015 to join the Islamic State.
Prosecutors further allege that in 2017, while in Syria, her husband purchased a teenage girl as a slave for $US10,000. The court heard that the enslaved girl was subjected to repeated rape and beatings by Mohammed. It is alleged that Ahmad consented to the purchase and mistreated the girl, frequently threatening her with beatings or the prospect of being sold. She also allegedly encouraged her husband to assault the teenager, and while she did not physically assault the girl herself, she would often verbally abuse her over minor issues.
Detective Senior Constable Marc Clendenning opposed bail, citing concerns that Ahmad posed a risk to the community and might spread extremist ideology. However, Ahmad's defense barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, argued that his client did not support the Islamic State and that strict bail conditions would mitigate any perceived risk.
Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan determined that Ahmad presented a very low risk to the community. This assessment was informed by the evidence of a psychologist who found that Ahmad no longer held radical views and did not pose a risk of recidivism. Judge Hannan noted that while a risk could never be entirely eliminated, the low risk, combined with stringent bail conditions, would make it acceptable.
Ahmad's bail conditions include an overnight curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., a ban from attending any mosques, and restrictions on phone usage to only calls, texts, or government services. She must also maintain a log of all visitors to her bail address and surrender any travel documents to the police. Ahmad's 31-year-old daughter, Zeinab, also an accused ISIS bride, remains in custody after her bail application was denied the previous week.