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AAP
AAP
National
William Ton

Alleged 'ISIS bride' wishes for peaceful life if bailed

Accused "ISIS bride" Kawsar Ahmad wants a peaceful life, her bail hearing has been told. (Anita Lester/AAP PHOTOS)

An accused "ISIS bride" who returned after a decade in war-torn Syria has indicated her wish for a small and peaceful life, agreeing to avoid mosques if she were to be released back into the community.

Kawsar Ahmad, who has been charged with slavery offences after she and other family members of former Islamic State fighters returned to Australia in May, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court for the second day of her bail hearing.

The 54-year-old grandmother is the mother of fellow alleged "ISIS bride" Zeinab Ahmad, 31, who was refused bail on Wednesday.

Preston Mosque (file)
A letter from Kawsar Ahmad's former mosque indicated support for her to stay away if granted bail. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

A letter from Kawsar Ahmad's former mosque in Preston was submitted to the court on Monday indicating support for her to stay away if she were to be conditionally released.

"That's her wish - her living a small-scale, peaceful and confined existence. It would mean she would have a small and local life," her barrister Peter Morrissey SC said.

That she is "happy to keep away" from the mosque and would agree to any bail condition Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan imposed that would alleviate concerns she would proselytise, the defence said.

"She's fair dinkum ... she's game for any restrictions and wants to show she's worthy of trust," Mr Morrissey said.

Zeinab Ahmad (file)
Kawsar Ahmad's daughter Zeinab has been refused bail. (Anita Lester/AAP PHOTOS)

As Ahmad watched from the court dock in a light brown hijab, her lawyer revealed she had begun divorce proceedings against her husband Mohammed, an IS fighter who remains in an Iraqi prison.

She and Mohammed are alleged to have migrated to Syria with their children to join IS in January 2015.

While there in 2017, he is accused of buying a teenage girl as a slave for $US10,000, whom he repeatedly raped and beat.

Prosecutors alleged Ahmad agreed to the girl's purchase and treated her badly, often screaming at her over trivial matters, threatening beatings or the prospect of being sold, but said she never assaulted the girl.

"She does not want any relationship with her husband ... (and) has negative views towards him," Mr Morrissey said on Monday.

Barrister Peter Morrissey (left) and psychologist Michael Davis
Barrister Peter Morrissey (left) and psychologist Michael Davis said Kawsar Ahmad presents no risk. (Jay Kogley/AAP PHOTOS)

The court heard evidence from clinical psychologist Michael Davis who revealed her depressed mood, anxiety, PTSD and dependent personality disorder diagnoses.

He said custody was weighing hard on her and the only positive that remains in her life is her children and grandchildren.

"My belief is she is so unwell and is currently so absolutely focused on being with her children and grandchildren, she is very unlikely to leave the house much," Dr Davis said.

Ahmad is also accused of sharing social media posts in 2016 calling for prayers to Allah to defeat non-believers and quotes from an al-Qaeda figure.

But Dr Davis said her views from a decade ago were no longer present and the prospects of her committing terrorist acts again is "vanishingly improbable".

Abraham Abbas (file)
Abraham Abbas said Islamic State had ruined the family's lives. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Mr Morrissey submitted his client is not a supporter of IS, wants nothing to do with them, and wishes to live a life free from extremism, violence and coercion.

"The world should know that's her position. She hates Islamic State. Any suggestions she could proselytise on behalf of IS - that's something she denounces," he said.

That was backed up by her brother Abraham Abbas who also denounced the terrorist organisation, a position he said his entire family shared.

"They ruined our lives," he told the court.

The bail hearing continues on Tuesday with a decision expected on Thursday.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491

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