‘ISIS bride’ Mariam Raad released on bail after terrorism-related offence charge

An ‘ISIS bride’ who was living in NSW after being repatriated from Syria last year has fronted court after she was charged with a terrorism offence.

An “ISIS bride” who returned to Australia last year has been released on bail after she was charged with a terrorism-related offence, with her lawyer claiming the charges were “damaging” and getting in the way of her reintegration into society.

Mariam Raad was arrested on Thursday morning, after she was repatriated from Syria with 16 other women and children last October.

Raad is the widow of maths teacher-turned-Islamic State recruiter Muhammad Zahab, who convinced dozens of his relatives to join him in Syria.

She was charged with entering a declared area, believed to be the Syrian city of Raqqa, and faced Griffith Local Court on Friday morning after spending the night on remand in Wagga Wagga.

She was represented by Moustafa Kheir, who argued for her release on bail, telling the court she suffered PTSD following her time in Syria, and was suffering from mental and physical ailments.

Mariam Raad is the widow of ISIS recruiter Muhammad Zahab. Picture: ABC

She was granted strict bail and will live in the regional town of Young with her family.

As part of her bail conditions, Raad will have to report daily to Young Police Station, surrender her passport, and not go within 1km of any international departure point.

Outside court, Mr Kheir said Raad’s charges were the result of “damaging political dog-whistling”.

“Mariam travelled overseas at a time when it was not illegal to do so. The allegation against her is that she was taken by her husband, and she remained there after the government decided it was illegal for her to do so,” he said.

“She remained there at a time when it was common knowledge that people were being killed if they tried to flee.

“Mariam was assessed as not being a risk of reoffending when he was repatriated by all law enforcement agencies. This has not changed, in fact her granting of bail has reaffirmed that fact.”

Mariam Raad at a refugee camp in Syria. Picture: Four Corners

Federal police searched a Parklea property on Thursday. Picture: 9 News

As part of her bail, Raad was also banned from communicating with any members of a terror organisation, or contacting any person at a jail or correctional facility.

The registrar also ordered Raad provide her phone number to the AFP for monitoring, and prohibited her from acquiring a gun, materials capable of being used as chemical weapon, and looking at, listening to or watching any literature or images of videos relating to explosives, terrorist attacks, firearms or knives.

Mr Kheir said spending the night in police custody had been a “terrible experience” for her and her children, who have “gone through hell and back”.

“She has always said she is willing to comply with any orders requested of her, and today in court she was willing to take on any condition law enforcement agencies found necessary,” he said.

“The damaging political dog-whistling needs to stop. It’s getting in the way of the real issues of getting treatment and care for Mariam and her children.

“She is very pleased to be back with her children. Even through war she was not separated from her children. However last night was one of the first nights she spent away from her children.”

Raad and her children – two boys born in Australia and two girls born in Syria – spent three years in refugee camps in northeast Syria, before they were brought back to NSW.

Police allege she moved to Syria in 2014 to join her husband, knowing he was involved with ISIS.

She will next appear before the court in March.