Judge Refuses Janai Safar Bail in Sydney on Isis Brides Arriving In Australia

Janai Safar, 32, was refused bail in Sydney on Friday after her arrest at Sydney airport on Thursday evening, keeping her in custody after the return of the isis brides arriving in australia. The New South Wales bail court hearing came after Safar came back from Syria with her child.

Safar faces one count of entering, or remaining in, declared areas and another charge of being a member of a terrorist organisation. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Judge Daniel Convington rejected her bail application because it did not meet the exceptional circumstances test.

Michael Ainsworth Arguments

Safar’s lawyer, Michael Ainsworth, told the court that she had spent almost a decade in a Syrian refugee camp before returning to Australia. He said, "She’s been in a situation that is, is, in itself, custodial in another country," and added, "This young lady … lived in truly horrific conditions in these refugee camps for many years."

Ainsworth also said, "She has significant community ties here in Australia, she’s one of seven children. There’s a place for her to live." Safar’s child is now being cared for by the child’s father.

Brian Massone Case

The crown prosecutor, Brian Massone, said the investigation for the case began a decade ago. Massone described the crown case as "strong and straightforward" and told the court, "The submission is the nature and seriousness of the offences, coupled with the strength of the crown case, militates against the threshold of exceptional circumstances being met," while saying Safar left Australia "in a premeditated and considered fashion" to join IS.

Safar was one of four women allegedly linked to IS who returned to Australia with children this week. Two other women, a mother and a daughter, were charged with crimes against humanity including slavery offences and are expected to make bail applications in Melbourne on Monday.

Melbourne Bail Applications

The Sydney ruling leaves Safar in custody while the broader case moves to Melbourne, where the mother and daughter will seek bail. For Safar, the immediate consequence is that her fight for release now turns on a test the judge said she did not meet, and the prosecution will continue to press a case that began a decade ago.