IS-linked mother and daughter charged with crimes against humanity including slavery face Melbourne court
Kawsar Ahmad, 53, and Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appear in Melbourne as Janai Safar, 32, due to face Sydney court on separate charges including joining a terrorist organisation Two Australian women charged with committing crimes against humanity including slavery offences during the rule of Islamic State in Syria have faced a Melbourne court. Kawsar Ahmad, 53, also known as Abbas, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were arrested by officers from the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team (JCTT) at Melbou
Janai Safar, 32, will remain in custody in Sydney. Two other women facing separate charges are expected to apply for bail in Melbourne on Monday
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An Australian woman charged with joining Islamic State in Syria has been refused bail despite concerns expressed by her lawyer over the loss of connection it would cause with one of her family members.
Janai Safar, 32, appeared before New South Wales bail court on Friday after she was arrested at Sydney airport on Thursday evening, after almost a decade in a Syrian refugee camp. She was one of four women allegedly linked to IS who returned to Australia with children this week.
Coverage from 3 sources
- IS-linked mother and daughter charged with crimes against humanity including slavery face Melbourne courtGuardian - World · Nino Bucci and Jordyn Beazley · May 8, 2026, 2:12 AM
- IS-linked Australian mother and daughter remanded in custody over Syrian slavery chargesGuardian - World · Nino Bucci and Jordyn Beazley · May 8, 2026, 3:41 AM
- Australian woman accused of joining Islamic State in Syria refused bailGuardian - World · Nino Bucci and Jordyn Beazley · May 8, 2026, 6:18 AM
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