Court Case Over Alleged Human Rights Abuses by Australians in Syria
Introduction
Two Australian women are being held in prison after being accused of slavery and crimes against humanity while living in Syria.
Main Body
The legal case involves 53-year-old Kawsar Abbas and her 31-year-old daughter, Zeinab Ahmad. Both women were arrested by a counter-terrorism team when they arrived at Melbourne airport. The prosecution claims that the two women lived in the Deir ez-Zor province of Syria from June 2017 to November 2018. During this time, they allegedly kept a woman as a slave in their home. Specifically, it is claimed that Abbas paid $10,000 USD to buy the slave. The charges include slave trading and enslavement, which the prosecution emphasized were part of a wider attack on civilians. Regarding the legal process, the defendants have delayed their first requests for bail. Zeinab Ahmad will apply for bail on June 4, and Kawsar Abbas is expected to apply on June 16. Abbas's lawyer, Peter Morrissey SC, stated that the decision on the daughter's application will likely influence the mother's strategy. Furthermore, the Australian Federal Police are expected to oppose these requests because the crimes are linked to terrorism. Meanwhile, another woman, Janai Safar, was arrested in Sydney for joining a terrorist group, while a fourth person, Zahra Ahmad, was released without any charges.
Conclusion
The two women will stay in custody until their bail hearings take place in June.
Learning
⚖️ The Power of "Allegedly"
At an A2 level, you usually say things are facts: "She bought a slave." But to reach B2, you must learn how to describe things that are not yet proven. In legal and professional English, we use "Hedge Language" to avoid making false accusations.
The Key word: Allegedly In the text, we see: "they allegedly kept a woman as a slave."
Why this moves you toward B2: Using allegedly (or it is claimed that...) changes your sentence from a simple statement of fact to a sophisticated report. It shows the listener that you understand the difference between a charge and a conviction.
🛠️ How to upgrade your sentences
| A2 (Basic Fact) | B2 (Nuanced Report) | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| They stole the money. | They allegedly stole the money. | You are protecting yourself from lying if they are innocent. |
| He lied on the form. | It is claimed that he lied on the form. | You are attributing the information to a source (the prosecution). |
🔍 Spotting the Pattern
Look at these two phrases from the article:
- "...being accused of slavery..."
- "...alleged human rights abuses..."
Both of these function as "safety nets." Instead of saying "These are human rights abuses" (which is a final judgment), the author says "alleged abuses." This is a hallmark of B2 level precision: Accuracy over Simplicity.