Arabic version: منح محمد باكيت إفراجاً بكفالة بسبب مشكلات صحية

According to ABC News, Mohamed Bakit, a Melbourne man accused of spreading extremist material for the Islamic State terror group, has been granted bail after a magistrate considered his significant health issues.

Bakit, 65, was arrested by counterterrorism police at his Carlton home on September 23 and has remained in custody since being charged with multiple offences. The charges include using a carriage service to transmit violent extremist material, possessing violent extremist material and being a member of a terrorist organisation.

He appeared by video link in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Deputy Chief Magistrate Gerard Lethbridge said Bakit had suffered the effects of a stroke in 2023 and had a permanent and significant neurological disability. The court heard he receives support and care at home seven days a week and faced a risk of adverse health outcomes in custody.

Magistrate Lethbridge said prison could not provide the same level of support or care without hospitalisation. He said potential risks could be addressed through strict conditions requiring Bakit to live only at his Carlton apartment, report regularly to police, surrender any passports and remain in the state.

At an earlier hearing, police alleged Bakit was the most active and an influential participant in a WhatsApp group that became a forum for accessing and distributing extremist material. Police informant Katherine Dillon said he sent close to 10,000 messages. Bakit’s lawyer, Michael McGrath, previously argued that no crime had been committed if recipients did not find the material offensive. The case was adjourned until March.