Former ‘IS bride’ set to face Australian court

• Mariam Raad is accused of entering territory in Syria that was under the authority of the Islamic State.
• Her ex-husband Muhammad Zahab was reportedly killed in an airstrike in 2018.
• He may spend up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of entering IS territory.

An Australian woman who had been rescued from a filthy Syrian prison was scheduled to appear in court on Friday on accusations related to her former husband’s involvement with the Islamic State.

In an effort to rescue Australian women and children from the infamous camps at Al-Hol and Roj, Mariam Raad was returned in October.

The majority of the women were the spouses of IS fighters who had been routed, and they said they had been coerced or deceived into traveling to Syria with their husbands.

The 31-year-old was allegedly aware that her ex-husband Muhammad Zahab was a prominent IS recruiter and had “willingly travelled to the conflict region,” according to Australian police, who detained Raad on Thursday.

Raad is accused of entering territory in Syria that was under the authority of IS, a crime under Australian law, and if found guilty, he may spend up to 10 years in prison.

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“We have zero tolerance for Australians, or anyone, who seek to commit acts of violence or extremism, and those considering doing the wrong thing will come under our notice,” counter-terrorism commander Mark Walton said.

Former Sydney math teacher Zahab was reportedly killed in an airstrike in 2018, according to the Australian Federal Police.

Along with 13 children and three other ladies, Raad left for Australia.

It was the first of several planned missions to bring home the 40 children and 20 Australian women who have been held captive in Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syria since the “caliphate” of IS fell in 2019.

In Australia, where some lawmakers have asserted that the women constitute a risk to national security, the return of the so-called “ISIS brides” has been met with opposition.

Others have thanked the government for saving Australian nationals from “horrific” circumstances, including Human Rights Watch.

Raad relocated to Young, a tiny town located about 370 kilometers (229 miles) west of Sydney, after being sent back home.

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