‘ISIS bride’ Mariam Raad, 31, charged over fighting for Islamic State after Syrian refugee rescue

A Sydney woman has been charged just months after being rescued from a Syrian refugee camp for reformed Islamic State fighters and eight years after she allegedly left Australia to fight for the militant group with her husband.

Mariam Raad, 31, was arrested after search warrants were issued in the NSW country town of Young and the western Sydney suburb of Parklea on Thursday morning.

Police will allege Ms Raad travelled to Syria in early 2014 to join her husband Muhammed, who left Australia in 2013, to join the fight for Islamic State.

She was charged with entering and remaining in parts of Syria that were under the control of the Islamic State terrorist organisation. 

Muhammad Zahab, a former Sydney maths teacher was a prolific Islamic State recruiter and lured dozens of his family members to Syria before being killed in 2018. 

Police allege Ms Raad knew her husband’s activities with Islamic State and, of her own free, will joined him.

The woman was in Al Roj Internally Displaced Persons camp in Syria before being repatriated to Australia in October 2022.

Ms Raad was arrested following a joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT).

In a statement, the JCTT said ‘newly obtained evidence’ allegedly allowed them to charge the woman. 

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Command Sandra Booth said Australians returning from declared conflict areas will be investigated in order to ensure the public’s safety.

‘Individuals will be brought before the courts when evidence supports allegations that returned individuals have committed offences in conflict areas,’ Acting AC Booth said.

‘The JCTT will continue to target criminal activity and does not target specific ideologies or beliefs.’

NSW Police Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said the NSW JCTT will continue to protect the community from those who pose a threat.

‘We have zero tolerance for Australians – or anyone – who seek to commit acts of violence or extremism, and those considering doing the wrong thing will come under our notice,’ Assistant Commissioner Walton said.

‘Our investigators methodically gather information and evidence, conduct surveillance and work tirelessly to target criminal activities which pose a threat to the Australian community.’

Ms Raad will face Wagga Wagga Local court on Thursday.

If found guilty she could spend up to 10 years behind bars.

More to come.