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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Mother-daughter 'ISIS bride' pair plead not guilty to slavery crimes

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Two women, Kawsar and Zeinab Ahmad, have pleaded not guilty to slavery charges stemming from their time living under Islamic State rule in Syria.
  • The mother and daughter, who returned to Australia in May, are accused of enslaving a Yazidi teenager.
  • Their cases will now proceed to the Supreme Court for trial, with a directions hearing scheduled for August 21.

A mother and daughter accused of slavery crimes committed while living under Islamic State rule in Syria have pleaded not guilty, advancing their cases to Victoria's Supreme Court.

Kawsar Ahmad, 54, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appeared via videolink in Melbourne Magistrates Court to enter their pleas. The women were part of a group of "ISIS brides" who returned to Australia in May after years spent in a Syrian detention camp.

Prosecutors allege that the Ahmad family moved to Syria about a decade ago and held a slave in their home while supporting the Islamic State. Kawsar Ahmad faces charges of enslavement, possessing a slave, using a slave, and engaging in slave trading. Zeinab Ahmad is charged with enslavement and using a slave.

The pair have opted to bypass a committal hearing, fast-tracking their cases directly to the Supreme Court. The first directions hearing is set for August 21, with further pre-trial hearings to follow before a trial date is determined. The Australian Federal Police claim Kawsar Ahmad taught religious studies to the alleged slave, a Yazidi teenager from an ethnic group persecuted by ISIS.

Zeinab Ahmad remains in custody after her bid for bail was denied, with the magistrate finding no "exceptional circumstances" for her release. Kawsar Ahmad was granted bail last month. Lawyers for both women have stated they do not support the Islamic State or its ideology. Zeinab Ahmad's defense barrister has said her client "despised IS and the men who enforced its ideals on her."

despised IS and the men who enforced its ideals on her

— Zeinab Ahmad's defense barristerDescribing the client's alleged feelings towards ISIS.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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