A Melbourne-based ISIS bride was quietly living just minutes from survivors of the brutal terrorist regime she is accused of supporting, with the revelations prompting outrage from community leaders.
Christian minority groups have expressed their shock and fear after the state and federal government failed to inform them that the woman – who was charged with terror-related offences on Thursday – was living in their neighbourhood.
Former ISIS hostages and families who fled to Australia from Iraq and Syria as the terrorist group slaughtered their villages, leaving severed heads in their wake, had been dreading the return of remaining Islamic State brides for years.
Amid the looming return of the latest cohort of 34 ISIS-linked women and children, Premier Jacinta Allan had assured the communities that she would “work very closely” with them and that her number one priority was their safety.
But George Aprim, a director of The Young Assyrians, said he felt their pleas for information and consultation had “fallen on deaf ears”.
It came as it was revealed Rayann El Houli, who was charged with entering a declared conflict zone and being a member of a terrorist organisation on Thursday, had been living in Broadmeadows.
Ms El Houli and her four children were among six people who quietly returned to Australia last year after smuggling themselves out of a Syrian camp.
Her identity was revealed as she was arrested on Thursday.
“Our general community has been asking the government for some form of consultation about allowing anyone formerly or currently allegedly affiliated with ISIS for months,” Mr Aprim said.
“But all done in secret.”
Mr Aprim said it was the unknown that was causing “massive concerns” in the community.
“We don’t know who they are, where they’re from, or if there are potentially family members who secretly support those groups as well,” he said.
“We love our fellow Muslim neighbours and we all live in peace and harmony.
“But the way the state government is going about it is disappointing, and many community members express that disappointment regularly.”
Another community member, who escaped ISIS as a child and wanted to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said it was upsetting that someone allegedly “connected to the darkness of ISIS” was living so close.
“I built a life here because Australia represented distance from the fear and violence ISIS brought into our lives,” she said.
“Christians and other minorities who fled ISIS often carry their stories quietly.
“We rebuilt our lives without wanting attention or pity.
“Yet moments like this remind us that the pain never truly disappears, it simply learns how to stay silent.”
Ms El Houli appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday as her lawyer revealed plans to seek bail.
It came as AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett revealed there were eight separate probes underway into families who have returned to Australia from Syrian camps. Two of the five ISIS-linked women who have returned to Melbourne this month have been charged, with the others under investigation.
Opposition spokesperson for multicultural and multi-faith Affairs Evan Mulholland said it was “straight up negligence” from the Allan government not to inform the community.
“The Liberals and Nationals stand firmly on the side of these survivors and will continue to advocate for their safety and protection,” he said.
A Victorian Government spokesperson said whether the women and children come to Victoria and where they live was “not up to the State Government or Victoria Police”.
“The Australian Federal Police are leading the national response to the women and children returning from camps in Syria,” she said.
“And Victoria Police are working closely with them on ensuring the safety of all Victorians.
“What we can do is support police and make sure they have the resources they need to keep the community safe.”