Australian Federal Police allege perfect dad has darker side online
ON THE outside he is the perfect suburban dad who says it is all a misunderstanding. But the AFP allege Isa Kocoglu has a darker side online: supporting and funding an extremist ideology.
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ON THE outside he is the perfect suburban dad: jovial, attentive to his children, a good son to his elderly parents.
But the Australian Federal Police allege that in front of a computer, locked away at home, Isa Kocoglu has a darker side: supporting and funding an extremist ideology.
On his public online pages, he shares funny videos, memes about Melbourne’s temperamental weather, and articles on his native Turkey. But he is also accused of being one of the Islamic State’s keyboard warriors, creating websites that promote its warped teaching and solicit donations to its cause.
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Mr Kocoglu met an accused terrorist sympathiser, whom the Herald Sun is calling the “Hate Preacher”, on the “Aussie Muslims” discussion page. After conversing online, they met in person several times and also had a number of phone conversations.
It was during one of these conversations, which was intercepted by federal police, that the “Hate Preacher” mentioned his “teacher and mentor” Abu Yahya Hasan.
Hasan is American John Georgelas — one of IS’s most influential English language propagandists.
Better known in jihadi circles as Yahya, the American is one of IS’s most valued Western leaders, known for his deep knowledge of Islamic teachings and influence over vulnerable Western jihadists.
The three were soon working together on developing websites and Facebook pages.
Internet archives show that Yahya was a prolific writer on matters of sharia law and Islamic theory.
The AFP alleges Yahya used the website to declare his allegiance to the IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. All three follow a sect which promotes a literal interpretation of the Koran.
The “Hate Preacher”, who is due to face trial next year, often promoted it among his circle of friends online and on his popular Twitter account.
It is believed there is evidence Mr Kocoglu, who claims to be a freelance designer, was responsible for the design of the web page.
Mr Kocoglu claims his arrest is a misunderstanding, he has done nothing wrong, and that the “Hate Preacher” has nothing to do with IS.
In February 2011, tragedy struck the family when one of Mr Kocoglu’s twin boys, 4, died in a fire at their grandparents’ Hampton Park home.
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