A Melbourne woman, recently returned from years spent in Syria, is facing serious terrorism charges, with authorities alleging she exposed her young children to Islamic State (IS) propaganda videos depicting the slaughter of 'disbelievers'. The explosive claims emerged during a bail hearing this week, where police vehemently opposed her release.

Rayann El Houli, a mother-of-four, is currently being held at the Dame Phyllis Frost women's prison. She faces charges of being a member of a terrorist organisation and entering or remaining in a declared area – offences that carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail.

Police Allege Propaganda Exposure

During the court proceedings, an Australian Federal Police officer, Paul Sherlock, detailed allegations that Ms. El Houli showed her young children graphic terrorist propaganda material in 2015 while they were living in Syria. Videos obtained by investigators allegedly depict Ms. El Houli telling her children that 'disbelievers' would be sent to 'hellfire'.

In one particularly disturbing exchange cited in court, Ms. El Houli is alleged to have instructed a young child holding a toy gun on 'how to hold the weapon'. Furthermore, she purportedly asked the child, "Did you see how the Mujahideen kill the Kuffar [the infidels] with the knife? Look at me. How do they slaughter them with the knife, how do they slaughter them with the knife?"

Senior Constable Sherlock expressed his belief that Ms. El Houli poses an unacceptable risk of disseminating extremist ideology within the community, including to her own children, if granted bail.

Journey to Syria and Life Under IS

The court heard that Ms. El Houli departed Australia in 2014 with her then-husband, Allak Hamad, and their two children. While living in Syria under Islamic State rule, she gave birth to two more children. Prosecutors allege she remarried multiple times following the deaths of her first husband, Hamad, and a second husband, Abdulkadehr Assad, both of whom were militants. A third marriage to another IS member, Mohammed Noor Masri, reportedly ended in divorce.

During her time in Syria, Ms. El Houli allegedly maintained contact with family in Australia, sending them messages and photographs, including images of firearms within her home.

In 2019, Ms. El Houli and her children were detained by Kurdish forces at the al-Hawl displaced persons camp in northern Syria. The family was eventually smuggled out of the camp and into Lebanon in June 2025, returning to Australia just months later.

Bail Opposition and Defence Arguments

Despite her return in late September 2025, Ms. El Houli was permitted to reside in the community for eight months before her arrest and remand into custody on May 28 this year. Senior Constable Sherlock stated that it was "shortly before her arrest that we established we had enough evidence to support a prosecution."

Prosecutors, led by Andrew Sprague, argued against bail, citing the "potential for catastrophic harm" as a reason for Ms. El Houli to remain in custody while her case proceeds through the courts. They highlighted a lack of evidence that she has changed her extremist views and noted her non-participation in a deradicalisation program since returning to Australia.

Conversely, defence barrister Peter Morrissey SC told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court in June that his client, 34, had renounced Islamic State and violent jihad. He asserted that Ms. El Houli deeply regretted endangering her children and has since lived a conventional life, acquiring a driver's licence and regularly taking her children to swimming and soccer lessons.

Mr. Morrissey also stated that his client suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is undergoing medical tests for a potential multiple sclerosis diagnosis. He assured the court that Ms. El Houli is now "very willing" to participate in a deradicalisation program.

Magistrate Brett Sonnet is expected to deliver a decision on bail next Monday, a ruling keenly awaited as the complex case unfolds.