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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

So-called ISIS bride believes terrorist group 'sucks', lawyer says

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • An Australian woman, Kawsar Ahmad, accused of enslavement offenses linked to her time with the Islamic State, is seeking bail.
  • Prosecutors are concerned she may spread extremist ideology if released, while her lawyer claims she denounces ISIS.
  • A new risk assessment is pending, complicating the "especially difficult" bail decision for the magistrate.

Kawsar Ahmad, an Australian woman facing charges including enslavement and slave trading, is seeking bail after returning from Syria where she lived under the Islamic State regime. Police express serious concerns that Ahmad, referred to by media as an "ISIS bride," could endanger others and spread extremist ideology if released.

ISIS sucks

— Peter Morrissey SCKawsar Ahmad's defense barrister describing her view of the Islamic State.

During a bail hearing, Ahmad's defense barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, stated that his client no longer supports the Islamic State, even asserting that "ISIS sucks." He emphasized that Ahmad "expressly denounces Islamic State as a disgraceful organisation."

She does expressly denounce Islamic State as a disgraceful organisation

— Peter Morrissey SCKawsar Ahmad's defense barrister stating her client's renunciation of ISIS.

However, Australian Federal Police officer Marc Clendenning testified that police believe Ahmad is not being genuine. He cited concerns that she could spread terrorist ideology to family members and visitors at a proposed bail address. The court heard that Ahmad was married to a former IS fighter and allegedly served as a religious teacher, with police alleging she approved of and threatened a Yazidi teenager kept as a slave.

Police hold serious concerns the accused will endanger the safety and welfare of other persons if released

— Marc ClendenningAustralian Federal Police officer testifying about the risks associated with releasing Kawsar Ahmad.

The bail application was adjourned after prosecutors revealed a new risk assessment had been conducted but was not yet available to the court. Magistrate Lisa Hannan stressed the need for full information for the "especially difficult" bail decision, noting that other agencies might seek to redact parts of the document on public interest immunity grounds.

If I don't have the information, what am I to conclude?

— Magistrate Lisa HannanThe magistrate expressing frustration over the lack of a crucial risk assessment document during the bail hearing.
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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