The Daily Populous Wednesday June 17th, 2026 evening edition
Authored by abc.net.au and submitted by Naderium

A woman accused of slavery offences while supporting the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria has had her bail application refused.

It is alleged Zeinab Ahmad ordered a slave to do chores and prevented her from leaving the house, after the accused's father purchased the Yazidi teenager for $US10,000 and forced her into sexual servitude.

Ms Ahmad was among two groups of women, referred to by media as "ISIS brides", who returned to Sydney and Melbourne last month along with their children.

The court heard the alleged victim described Ms Ahmad as like the "deputy" of the house.

While the AFP allege Ms Ahmad badly "mistreated" the girl, it is not alleged she physically assaulted her.

Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan said "exceptional circumstances" were needed for bail given Ms Ahmad's past support of IS.

The chief magistrate said the accused had said through others that she "renounces Islamic State and all violent extremism" but there was "no compelling evidence of her renunciation".

Ms Ahmad is facing two slavery charges, each carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years.

It's the first time that crimes against humanity have been tested in the Australian judicial system, with each of the two charges carrying up to 25 years' jail.

The AFP argued Ms Ahmad had not renounced her support for IS and posed an unacceptable risk to the community if she were released on bail.

Prosecutors pointed to social media posts from Ms Ahmad where she shared Islamic State propaganda, celebrated the execution of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive, and gloated that only "three out of 200" Australians that joined IS had decided to leave.

Australian Federal Police have argued in court that Zeinab Ahmad had not renounced her support of Islamic State. (ABC News: Christopher Gillette)

"There is clear and objective evidence from the time when the applicant was in Syria, in Islamic State territory, of her support for and her endorsement of Islamic State ideology," prosecutor Andrew Sprague said

Defence barrister Grace Morgan accepted there had been no "explicit" renunciation but told the court Ms Ahmad despised IS and the "men who enforced its ideals on her".

"She rejects Islamic state," she told the court.

Defence team outline's daughter's stress, anxiety

Ms Ahmad's defence team said her client should receive bail to support her young daughter, who grew up in the al-Roj refugee camp in Syria, facing constant threats of "violence and insecurity".

The young girl suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and separation anxiety after her mother was arrested upon her return to Australia in May, the court heard.

"[The daughter] has endured more things in her short life having just turned seven years old than most adults would endure in their entire existence," defence lawyer Ms Morgan said.

"Prolonged separation is likely to maintain her stress. This could have long term negative impacts for my client's daughter."

The Al-Roj refugee camp in Syria. (ABC News: Heidi Pett)

The team also argued Ms Ahmad's desire to be with her daughter would be a deter a breach of bail conditions and stated there was no "sensible suggestion" she would engage in a terrorism act.

"That is not a real risk," Ms Morgan said.

The defence team also argued complexities surrounding the case, and that many witnesses were based overseas, could lead to lengthy delays before trial.

This meant time spent on remand could be longer than a possible sentence if convicted.

The accused's legal team also argued the seven years she was stuck in the al-Roj camp "must" also be considered.

Social media posts on husband's Islamic State journey

When Ms Ahmad travelled to Syria, she posted on social media that her husband had decided to migrate and join Islamic State.

"The actions my husband made, and which I had to follow, have nothing, absolutely nothing to do with my parents or myself," her account posted.

That husband was killed in 2016, and Ms Ahmad was subsequently re-married twice.

The defence team said her first husband was "controlling", and the other marriages were effectively forced under Islamic State rule.

"All women's movements and liberties under this regime were severely curtailed," defence lawyer Ms Morgan told the court.

violet_mango_green on June 17th, 2026 at 12:36 UTC »

What do they mean that the time she spent in the refugee camp “must be considered”?

Is that with respect to the charges and potential sentencing or to bail and her daughter’s potential PTSD? Do they really think there are circumstances where the daughter will get out of this without an immense amount of trauma?

Reading this, I expected them to suggest that Zainab experienced domestic violence or coercion from her father that impacted her choices and behavior. The fact that they didn’t says a lot.

CandidContract2030 on June 17th, 2026 at 11:56 UTC »

Slavery crimes should be life imprisonment. What a disgusting human being.

kvasiir on June 17th, 2026 at 11:53 UTC »

Owning slaves in the 21st century.... yikes. Vile “person”