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A NSW lady who was repatriated to Australia from a Syrian refugee camp is because of face court docket after being charged with coming into and remaining in components of Syria that have been below the management of the Islamic State.
Mariam Raad, 31, was arrested on Thursday in Youngwithin the state’s south-west, the place she had been residing since being returned in October.
Australian Federal Police and NSW Police investigators from the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Workforce executed warrants at her residence and a house in Parklea, in Sydney’s north-west, the place a relative lives.
She was charged with coming into, or remaining in, “declared areas” – on this case Syria, which was below the management of the terrorist group IS – in breach of federal regulation.
She faces as much as 10 years in jail if convicted.
It is understood Ms Raad is in custody in Wagga Wagga. She is because of seem within the native court docket on Friday.
Margaret Roles, the mayor of Hilltops Council, which oversees Younger, mentioned it was not identified that Ms Raad was locally and declined to remark additional because the matter is earlier than the courts.
“We have been a various however inclusive neighborhood for a very long time,” Cr Roles mentioned on Friday.
It will likely be alleged in court docket that Ms Raad traveled to Syria in early 2014 to hitch her husband – Muhammad Zahab – who left Australia in 2013 and joined IS.
It will likely be additional alleged Ms Raad was conscious of her husband’s actions with IS and willingly traveled to the battle area.
The husband, a former Sydney maths trainer who rose by way of the ranks of the fear outfit, is believed to have died in Syria in 2018.
The lady was till final 12 months residing within the Al Roj Internally Displaced Individuals camp in northern Syria, which has been below Kurdish management because the defeat of IS.
The investigation into the lady started when she was in Syria and continued after she returned.
The federal police commander tasked with monitoring terror dangers mentioned the joint counter-terrorism crew would proceed to analyze Australians coming back from declared battle areas.
“People will likely be introduced earlier than the courts when proof helps allegations that returned people have dedicated offenses in battle areas,” Performing Assistant Commissioner Sandra Sales space mentioned on Thursday.
Ms Raad was one in all 4 ladies and 13 kids repatriated from the Syrian camp to Sydney in October final 12 months.
All the ladies have been married to IS fighters who at the moment are lifeless or in jail.
The NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Workforce contains members of the AFP, NSW Police, the Australian Safety Intelligence Group and the NSW Crime Fee.
-AAP
