Updated ,first published
Two Islamic State-linked women will ask to be released back into the community at a bail hearing on Monday after appearing in court charged with slavery offences.
Grandmother Kawsar Abbas, 54, and daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, were among four women and nine children who arrived in Australia on Thursday night after spending years in a refugee camp in north-east Syria.
The Australian Federal Police announced on Friday morning the pair were charged with enslavement, and using a slave. Abbas, also known as Kawsar Ahmad, was also charged with possessing a slave and engaging in slave trading.
“It will be alleged the woman [Abbas] travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children, and was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for $US10,000 ($13,875) and knowingly kept the woman in the home,” the AFP said in a statement.
Charge sheets released to media late on Friday revealed Abbas is accused of trading a person in Syria’s Deir ez-Zur province near the Iraqi border in June 2017.
Both Abbas and Ahmad are then accused of illegally using and exercising ownership over a slave until November 2018.
“This conduct was allegedly committed intentionally or knowingly as part of a widespread or systemic attack directed against a civilian population,” court documents say.
The charges – considered “crimes against humanity” – each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment and are the first of their kind laid in Australian history.
Abbas was represented on Friday by high-profile lawyer Bill Doogue, who last year defended killer mushroom cook Erin Patterson.
She smiled briefly at a group of supporters in the packed courtroom as she walked into the dock.
Prosecutor Andrew Sprague told chief magistrate Lisa Hannan that at least three hours were needed for the bail hearing. The court heard the Crown would allege the offending was terrorism-related and push for Abbas and Ahmad to be remanded.
“It will take at least an hour, hour and a half, to read the summary, your honour,” Sprague said.
The court heard the Commonwealth attorney-general had authorised the unusual charges against the pair, as required by legislation.
Ahmad was expressionless as she walked into the dock. Her lawyer Maya George indicated she would also apply for bail on Monday.
The prosecution also indicated they would apply for a suppression order to protect the identity of an alleged slave victim and witness.
The accused mother and daughter lived in the al-Roj refugee camp for seven years after leaving Australia to join their partners, who were allegedly involved with Islamic State. They were detained in the camp by Kurdish forces in March 2019, the AFP said.
Abbas travelled to Syria with Zeinab and her other daughter, Zahra, to join her husband and the daughters’ father, Muhammad Ahmad.
The fourth woman who returned to Australia was not arrested. The children will be placed into anti-radicalisation programs and given psychological support as they begin a new life in Australia after spending most of their lives in war zones and decrepit camps.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the investigation was active and involved “very serious allegations”.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said the safety of all Victorians remains paramount.
“Victoria Police will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and other agencies to ensure there is no risk to our local community,” he said.
“We want to reassure all Victorians that anyone residing in our state who has committed serious criminal offences, including those returning from conflict areas, will be held to account.”
The women’s return has been the subject of a heated political debate.
The government has insisted it had no role in their repatriation and said it could do little to intervene as the women were Australian citizens.
“It has always been the position of this government that we have not assisted the return of any of these people,” Labor senator Tim Ayres told Nine’s Today. “[There are] very strongly held views in the government that they should not have gone in the first place.”
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said on Friday morning that the government should have accessed special powers to deny the women entry.
“We offered to give the government more powers that were rejected,” he told ABC Radio National.
“I think what’s really important now is that the prime minister come out today and explain how this has helped … and he should explain to Australian people how he’s keeping them safe.”
Deputy Liberal leader Jane Hume, appearing on Seven’s Sunrise, echoed Canavan’s comments that the government should have done more to deny passports or issue temporary protection orders.
She raised the case of a young Yazidi woman now living in Australia who was one of the children enslaved by Islamic State families.
“The trauma this woman has gone through is unimaginable. And now people just like her captors have been invited back to Australia.”
With Brittany Busch
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Lachlan Abbott is a crime reporter at The Age. Previously, he was a city reporter and covered breaking news.Connect via email.
Angus Delaney is a reporter at The Age. Email him at angus.delaney@theage.com.au or contact him securely on Signal at angusdelaney.31Connect via email.