Alleged senior Brisbane extremist figure bankrolled fighter in Syrian conflict, police claim

An alleged founding figure in a Brisbane group with links to an Islamist group fighting in the Syrian Civil War will remain behind bars on remand.

An alleged senior founding figure of a Queensland extremist group has been charged with bankrolling a foreign fighter who went on to fight in Syria.

A Queensland man accused of bankrolling a foreign fighter used social media to convince others to “cleanse the land” in Syria, a court has heard.

Omar Saghir will remain behind bars on remand charged with preparation for foreign incursions following his extradition to Queensland earlier this week.

The 39-year-old was arrested upon arriving in Sydney from Saudi Arabia in July.

During a bail application on Thursday, Facebook messages allegedly shared by Saghir about the overseas conflict were read out at Brisbane Magistrates Court.

The court heard a Facebook profile with Saghir‘s name urged “brothers” to support overseas fighters and ”cleanse the land”.

Other posts urged Muslims to liberate Damascus and Jerusalem and “open up new battlegrounds.”

Mr Saghir is alleged to have sent $1010 via international money transfer to another man who went on to fight in Syria against the Assad regime in 2013.

Members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, wave to a fellow member as a convoy of buses gets ready to enter the towns of Fuaa and Kefraya to evacuate their residents on July 18, 2018. Picture: AFP / OMAR HAJ KADOUR

Police allege Mr Saghir was a founding senior figure in a Queensland organisation with links to the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The group is involved in hostile activities against Syrian government forces.

It is also alleged the Queensland group maintained a “religiously-motivated violent extremist ideology” and a desire to travel to Syria to engage in hostile activities.

The court was told one member of the group went on to become a suicide bomber in Syria.

Prosecutor Daniel Whitmore opposed bail, saying Mr Saghir had relationships with people who could freely travel between Turkey and Syria.

Mr Saghir’s legal aid lawyer said his client had not committed any offences since 2013.

He said Mr Saghir had demonstrated “no willingness” to interfere with witnesses thus far and disputed whether the Facebook messages were shared by his client.

Magistrate Tina Previtera refused bail.

Mr Saghir will return to court on September 3.