Mother and Daughter Charged with ISIS Slavery to Face Supreme Court Trial

Kawsur Ahmad, 54, and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31, appeared via video link at the Melbourne Magistrates Court and entered not‑guilty pleas to slavery offences tied to their alleged involvement with the Islamic State. Prosecutors allege the family joined IS in Syria in 2015 and that Kawsur’s husband, Mohammed Ahmad, purchased a teenage girl as a slave in 2017, subjecting her to repeated rape and beatings. Kawsur is accused of agreeing to the purchase and mistreating the girl, while Zeinab is not charged with assault but a teen testified that Zeinab also treated her badly.

Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan confirmed that the cases have been fast‑tracked to the Victorian Supreme Court under a special procedure. Kawsur’s bail was extended with conditions, including a prohibition on attending mosques, whereas Zeinab was denied bail and remains remanded in custody. A directions hearing is scheduled for August.