Accused ISIS Member Granted Bail in Australia Amid Health and Age Concerns
An alleged Islamic State propagandist has been granted bail in Melbourne due to significant health issues and his age, with taxpayers set to fund his 24-hour National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) care.
An accused member of Islamic State, Mohamed Musse Bakit, 65, has been granted bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court, two weeks after being charged with intentionally being a member of a terrorist organization. The court cited exceptional circumstances, including Bakit's age, lack of prior convictions, medical conditions, and his wife's dependence on him.
Bakit's lawyers successfully argued for his release, highlighting that he requires assistance with daily tasks following a stroke in 2023 and has been approved for NDIS care. Deputy chief magistrate Gerard Lethbridge acknowledged that Bakit suffers from significant health issues and faces a higher risk of adverse health outcomes if he remains in custody. The magistrate also noted that most of the alleged offenses were dated and that there had been no further offending.
Federal police had arrested Bakit in July 2024 after an investigation that began in November 2020 when he was stopped by Australian Border Force while traveling to Egypt. At that time, examination of his electronic devices allegedly revealed videos of an Islamic preacher promoting jihad. Although allowed to leave the country, further examination of his devices upon his return to Australia in June 2021 led to the ongoing charges.
Prosecutors had opposed bail, but Bakit's defense contended that his age and health constituted exceptional reasons for release. The court heard that Bakit's wife also relies on him, as she cannot speak English or work in Australia. The magistrate accepted that these factors, combined with the possibility that Bakit could spend more time on remand than any potential sentence, justified granting bail.
Strict conditions have been imposed on Bakit's bail, including a ban on leaving the state, using encrypted messaging applications, and downloading terrorist material. He is scheduled to return to court in March.
Police allege that Bakit sent thousands of messages and shared numerous files of ISIS propaganda, including images and videos of beheadings and public executions, within a WhatsApp group chat created by another IS supporter. One alleged message included a pledge of allegiance to IS dated December 15, 2018.
