Yazidi Woman Alleges Enslavement and Abuse in Syria
A Yazidi woman has come forward with allegations of enslavement and abuse, claiming she was forced to share a bedroom with the daughter of her alleged captors in Syria. The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard details of the case against Zeinab Ahmad, 31, who is facing two slavery charges. The case, which involves claims of rape and physical abuse, continues with a bail hearing set to resume on Friday.
Zeinab and her mother, Kawsar Ahmad, also known as Kawsar Abbas, aged 53, have been detained since their return to Australia from a Syrian refugee camp. They were part of a group linked to the Islamic State group.
The Iraqi-born Yazidi witness, whose identity remains protected, stated in a police report that she was purchased for $10,000 in 2017 by Mohammed Ahmad in Raqqa, Syria. Mohammed is Zeinab’s father and Kawsar’s husband. Detective Senior Constable Mark Clendenning informed the court that Kawsar played a role in acquiring the teenager as a slave, an uncommon involvement for women within the IS caliphate.
Clendenning noted that the Ahmad family held a privileged status within IS, which afforded them certain exceptions to the group’s usual practices. The witness was reportedly taken to a home shared by the Ahmad family and their five daughters, including Zeinab.
According to the statement, Mohammed told the witness, “I bought you for the purpose of raping and at the same time serving the home.” He allegedly introduced her to his family, stating, “I bought her for sex and to do housework.” Zeinab, who was present during instances of alleged abuse, did not physically harm the witness but reportedly threatened her and issued commands.
The witness recounted that she was 15 when she was among 6,800 Yazidi women and children enslaved, being traded 17 times over five years before her liberation by Kurdish forces in 2019.
Police allege Zeinab’s first husband died in a drone attack in 2016, after which she remarried an Egyptian IS fighter. During the time the witness was in their custody, Mohammed Ahmad allegedly beat her multiple times a month, often in the presence of his family.
It is claimed that Mohammed sold the witness for another $10,000 in 2018, citing her disobedience. The Ahmad family, originally from Melbourne, moved to Syria between 2013 and 2014. Zeinab reportedly traveled there with her husband in 2014.
There are concerns about the risks associated with Zeinab’s potential release, as she has married multiple IS-affiliated men and her current husband’s location is unknown. Clendenning emphasized that Zeinab has never publicly renounced support for IS since surrendering to Kurdish forces. She faces charges of enslavement and using a slave, each carrying a potential 25-year prison sentence.
