Wannabe IS fighter Moudasser Taleb enjoys first afternoon of freedom

A young wannabe IS fighter stopped at Sydney Airport as he tried to fly to Syria has enjoyed his first afternoon of freedom in two years after being handed a five-year good behaviour bond. He quickly collected on a promise his lawyer had made him.

A young wannabe Islamic State fighter stopped at Sydney Airport as he tried to fly to Syria will has enjoyed his first afternoon of freedom in two years after being handed a five-year good behaviour bond.

Moudasser Taleb, who had no plane ticket and little money when arrested in mid-2017, was found guilty by a jury in April of preparing to travel to Syria for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities. The defence had claimed Taleb had no intention of engaging in warfare or was mentally ill at the time.

Moudasser Taleb enjoys a chocolate meal on his first afternoon of freedom in two years.

After spending two years in custody awaiting the outcome of his court case for terrorism offences Moudasser Taleb celebrated his first afternoon of freedom with hot chocolate and waffles on Friday.

The 22-year-old, who suffers from schizophrenia, was promised by his legal team that if he didn’t receive a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of preparing to enter Syria to engage in hostile activities they would buy him a chocolate meal.

Moudasser Taleb and his lawyer (right) leave the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney on Friday afternoon. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Several hours after Justice Peter Hamill released him on a five-year good behaviour bond Taleb enjoyed a meal of waffles, hot chocolate and strawberries with his younger brother and legal team.

He left the restaurant with some chocolates to take home to his mum who suffer from multiple sclerosis.

Taleb was 22 when caught at the airport in June 2017. He was later found to have videos on his phone of beheadings, people with ISIS flags and battlefields. NSW Supreme Court Justice Peter Hamill on Friday said the two years Taleb had already spent in custody were adequate. The judge found him to be of good character despite his crime.

“I accept his mental illness had a significant impact on his moral culpability,” Justice Hamill said, referring to a diagnosis of schizophrenia after Taleb’s arrest.

Moudasser Taleb after his arrest. Picture: Twitter, 7News

Justice Hamill said he was in no doubt the decision to place Taleb on a good behaviour bond would be criticised by public commentators “who think no sentence is ever long enough”.

But he said all the facts before him “cry out” for a sentence that would allow “the young, mentally ill and vulnerable offender” the chance of rehabilitation. Taleb’s impairment may have made him more susceptible to extremism and the offender was “an inappropriate vehicle” for a sentence of general deterrence, the judge said.

The lengthy bond includes stringent conditions. For the first two years Taleb must not use messaging app Telegram, access any material controlled by IS or any other group espousing radical Islam and continue treatment for his mental illness.

The judge stressed repeatedly the young man knew what he was doing was illegal but added he wouldn’t have headed to the airport without the “quite appropriate” intervention and encouragement of an undercover police officer. Taleb’s interest in Islam became intense in 2014 after an episode in hospital. He was already interested in joining IS in the Middle East before the sophisticated undercover sting began.

Moudasser Taleb while in custody. Picture: AAP

At the advice of the operative, Taleb made preparations to go to Syria and arrived at the airport with a bag containing military clothing, a sleeping bag, tactical gloves, a solar charger and other gear.

Justice Hamill noted that when Taleb asked what he should do if turned away from the airport, the operative suggested he commit an act of domestic terrorism.

Taleb replied: “No, I’ll just look after my mum.”

She suffered from multiple sclerosis and the young man looked after her full-time.

Taleb initially sat with his arms crossed during Friday’s sentencing but smiled at his lawyer when he later realised he was to be freed.

“Good luck, Mr Taleb,” Justice Hamill said as he left the courtroom.

Originally published as Wannabe IS fighter Moudasser Taleb enjoys first afternoon of freedom