‘Fighting fund’ set up for five suspects accused of trying to travel to Syria

A FACEBOOK page supporting five men accused of trying to join Islamic State in Syria is asking people to help pay their legal fees.

A FACEBOOK page supporting five men accused of planning to flee Australia by boat to fight with Islamic State in Syria has asked its followers to help pay for their legal fees.

The five, who are all from Melbourne and include Islamic preacher Musa Cerantonio, were arrested near Cairns last Tuesday.

Over the weekend, they were charged with making preparations for incursions into foreign countries to engage in hostile activities.

They face a maximum penalty of life in jail if found guilty.

Musa Cerantonio was deported from the Philippines in 2014 where he used YouTube to call for jihad and praise IS. Picture: abc.net.au

Police allege the group planned to sail from Cape York to Indonesia in a fishing boat and to eventually join terrorist groups in the Middle East.

The Brothers Behind Bars page, with more than 600 followers, has been set up to get donations for legal fees to “release them from the shackles of the unbelievers”.

Some have claimed the men were just on a fishing trip.

The men appeared before the Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday where Australian Federal Police (AFP) successfully applied for their extradition to Victoria.

The group is expected to appear before a Melbourne magistrate on Thursday.

“We need not emphasise on the importance of showing your support and solidarity to these brothers and their families,” one post says.

It comes as extremist British preacher Abu Haleema posted a YouTube video calling out Sydney preachers for their lack of support of the “brothers behind bars” following the arrest of tin-boat jihadis, specifically Musa Cerantonio.