A Melbourne woman accused of holding a Yazidi teenager as a slave while living under Islamic State (IS) rule in Syria has been denied bail for a second time. The Victorian Court of Appeal upheld a lower court’s decision today, ruling that Zeinab Ahmad poses an “unacceptable risk” to the community if released from custody.
Ms. Ahmad, 31, is facing serious charges related to her time in Syria after travelling to the country with her family in 2015. Prosecutors allege that in 2017, Ms. Ahmad’s father purchased a Yazidi teenager, whom he subsequently subjected to physical and sexual abuse. While Ms. Ahmad is not accused of direct physical violence against the girl, it is alleged she acted as a “deputy” within the household, forcing the victim to perform domestic chores.
During the hearing, Justice James Elliott dismissed arguments from the defense team, who contended that the case was subject to unreasonable delays and that Ms. Ahmad’s continued incarceration was causing undue harm to her young daughter, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Justice Elliott acknowledged that the family separation was “extremely unfortunate,” but noted that the child is currently in the care of her grandmother, Kawsar Ahmad. Kawsar Ahmad, who is also facing slavery charges, was granted bail by the court in June.
The defense also presented testimony from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Rajan Darjee, who suggested it was “entirely plausible” that Ms. Ahmad had moved on from her previous support for IS. However, Justice Elliott questioned the expert’s assessment, noting that Dr. Darjee lacked specific experience in evaluating terrorist ideology. Ultimately, the judge concluded that the risk to public welfare necessitated her continued detention, noting that the isolation she currently experiences in custody is a direct reflection of the gravity of the charges against her.
Outside the courtroom, the ruling was met with hostility from the accused’s family. Her uncle, Abraham Abbas, described the decision as “absolute rubbish.”
“They’re victimising victims, that’s all it is,” Mr. Abbas told reporters.
The prosecution has previously told the court that during her time in Syria, Ms. Ahmad used social media to demonstrate explicit support for the Islamic State terrorist group. Defense lawyers have attempted to mitigate the allegations by arguing that Ms. Ahmad was operating under the coercive influence of her “dominant” and “controlling” husbands, who were also supporters of the extremist group.
The court has rejected the defense’s characterization of the proceedings, stating that the matter is moving forward according to the established schedule. Both Zeinab and Kawsar Ahmad have entered not guilty pleas to their respective charges. Ms. Ahmad remains in custody as the case continues toward trial.
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