An Australian woman accused of joining the Islamic State group has renounced jihad, her lawyer stated in court on Monday, as prosecutors detailed allegations that she expressed support for terrorist acts and recruited others to join her in Syria.
Court Hearing Details
Rayann El Houli, 34, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to apply for bail on charges of joining a terrorist organization and entering and remaining in Raqqa, Syria, more than a decade ago when the city was the Islamic State's stronghold. Defense lawyer Peter Morrissey told the court that expert evidence would demonstrate her views had changed.
“She renounces ISIS and violent jihad,” Morrissey said, using an acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “She wants nothing to do with it: not now directly or indirectly. Not in the future. Not for herself. Not for the people she loves and specifically not for the children.”
Prosecution Allegations
Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan outlined the prosecution's summary of evidence, alleging that El Houli traveled to Syria between 2013 and 2014 with the intention of joining IS fighters. “The accused expressed radicalized views while in Syria, including support for terrorist acts. She supported acts of martyrdom whilst in Syria. She repeatedly expressed views that supported the killing or serious injury of non-believers,” Hannan said.
The magistrate further alleged that El Houli attempted to indoctrinate her children and invited individuals living in Australia to go to Syria for “purposes of following a life and making decisions based on IS or other extremist ideology.”
El Houli left Raqqa in 2019 “when the caliphate was defeated and not as a result of her changing views,” Hannan added.
Bail Application Adjourned
The bail application was adjourned to a later date. Each charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years, and under Australian law, people charged with terrorism offenses can only be released on bail in exceptional circumstances. Hannan stated she wanted to hear details of how El Houli escaped from the al-Hol camp for displaced people in eastern Syria and was smuggled into Lebanon.
El Houli returned to Australia from Lebanon last year and was arrested in Melbourne last week. Three other women linked to IS who have recently returned to Australia were charged with slavery and terrorism offenses on arrival and remain in custody, while others are under police investigation.
