Woman charged with joining Islamic State appears in Sydney court after seven years in Syria
The 32-year-old was arrested at Sydney Airport last night upon her return from Syria as part of a group of 13 women and children. Two other women from the group were arrested in Melbourne.
Janai Safar, a 32-year-old woman, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney this morning charged with entering a declared conflict zone and being a member of the Islamic State. She was arrested at Sydney Airport upon her return from Syria last night after spending over seven years in Syrian detention camps. Safar was escorted off the plane by police officers immediately upon arrival.
The charges relate to entering or remaining in a declared area and membership of a terrorist organisation. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment. This marks the first court appearance for Safar, with specific legal outcomes or bail conditions yet to be determined by the court.
Safar arrived in Australia as part of a group of 13 women and children. Police confirmed that two other women from the group, Kawsar Abbas and Zeinab Ahmad, were arrested by officers from the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team at Melbourne Airport last night. While Abbas and her daughter Zeinab face charges, another daughter of the group, 33-year-old Zahra Ahmad, was not arrested or charged.
The women arrived with eight children in separate flights, with one group landing in Sydney and the other in Melbourne. Federal police stated that Safar was charged on her arrival back in Australia last night. The full details regarding the specific conditions of detention in Syria for the group of 13 women and children remain unverified in current reports.
It is currently unknown whether other members of the group, beyond the three arrested, will face charges. The case will proceed through the legal system as authorities determine the next steps for the accused.
