Rayann El Houli Held on 2 IS Charges After Syria Return
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 28
Rayann El Houli Held on 2 IS Charges After Syria Return
10 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 28
34-year-old Rayann El Houli was remanded in Melbourne after appearing in court on charges of joining Islamic State and entering a declared conflict zone, each carrying up to 10 years.
Police allege she traveled to Syria in 2013-14 to join IS, was captured by Kurdish forces in 2019 and returned to Australia via Lebanon on Sept. 26 with her children.
Her bail bid will be heard Monday, with her lawyer saying the mother of 4 has PTSD and should be reunited quickly with children now back in school and sports programs.
The case lands amid a wider repatriation crackdown: 7 women and 12 children returned from Syria this week, and 3 women who arrived earlier this month were also charged and remain in custody.
As ISIS-linked mothers face Australian courts, what is the fate of their repatriated children?
With 20,000 missing from a Syrian camp, has Australia's real security threat just begun?
ISIS is rebuilding after camp escapes. Is Australia's legal approach enough to stop them?