ISIS bride Mariam Raad released on bail after being charged with illegal travel

A young ISIS bride has been released on bail after she was arrested for allegedly travelling to territory controlled by Islamic State to live with her husband.

A young ISIS bride has been released on bail after she was arrested for allegedly travelling to Syria to live with her husband who had joined Islamic State.

Mariam Raad was arrested on Thursday after a police raid on her home in the regional NSW town of Young.

Her arrest came only three months after she was repatriated with 16 other women.

The 31-year-old had been living at the Al Roj Internally Displaced Persons camp in Syria before her return to her home country.

Mariam Raad was charged with travelling to Islamic State-controlled territory in Syria and remaining there to live with her husband. Picture: Four Corners

According to court documents, Australian authorities allege she travelled to Syria in early 2014 to join her husband, Muhammad Zahab, who had left Australia a year earlier to join IS.

Ms Raad is alleged to have willingly travelled to the conflict region and known about her husband’s prominent role within the terrorist organisation.

Mr Zahab is believed to have died in Syria in 2018 during an air strike.

His widow has been charged with entering or remaining in declared areas contrary to the Criminal Code.

On Friday, Ms Raad appeared in Griffith Local Court via audiovisual link to ask to be released from police custody.

The court granted her request with a number of strict conditions which restrict her from contacting anyone who may be connected with a terrorist organisation.

Ms Raad is forbidden from accessing, producing, or distributing any material related to explosives, weapons, anti-surveillance, executions, terrorist attacks, terrorism organisations or armed conflicts.

The court ordered the 31-year-old not to acquire any firearms, prohibited weapons, or any materials which could be used to make a weapon or explosive.

Mariam Raad is the widow of ISIS member Muhammad Zahab.

She will be required to report to her local police station once a week, and not approach any international point of departure. Her passport has been surrendered to the authorities.

On Thursday, the AFP reassured the community that Ms Raad poses no current or impending risk.

The NSW JCTT said it recently obtained new evidence which allowed them to charge the 31-year-old. She faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment if found guilty.

Ms Raad will return to Young Local Court on March 15.

Originally published as ISIS bride Mariam Raad released on bail after being charged with illegal travel