Australian woman accused of joining Islamic State in Syria refused bail

A court sketch of Janai Safar. She is one of four women allegedly linked to IS who returned to Australia with children this week. Two of the women faced court in Melbourne charged with separate offences including slavery. Photograph: Rocco Fazzari/AAP

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.