Radwan Dakkak connected people. A central node in Sydney's ISIS network, linking multiple individuals who would later be convicted of terrorism offenses. He ran media infrastructure that disseminated ISIS propaganda across Australia. He maintained relationships between extremists inside and outside prison. The connective tissue.
Born in Sydney to Lebanese parents, raised in Toongabbie. He became increasingly focused on Islam during the three years before his July 2019 arrest. Convicted in December 2020 on two counts of associating with a terrorist organization. First count: intentional association with Isaac El Matari between January and July 2019, while El Matari was actively planning terrorist operations. Second count: association with Ahlut-Tawhid Publications and Sheikh Hassan Hussein between July 2017 and July 2019.
Ahlut-Tawhid Publications was a pro-ISIS media operation. It translated and disseminated ISIS material through online publications and social media. "From Dabiq to Rome" promoted Salafi-jihadism and was used by ISIS to claim responsibility for attacks worldwide. Dakkak assisted with translation, promotion, distribution. He used multiple online platforms under aliases, including the kunya "Abu Bakr At-Tarabulsi," to promote propaganda and radicalize wider audiences.
On April 26, 2019, Dakkak pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He renewed the pledge on May 24, 2019. He required his fiancee to pledge allegiance before marriage. During his association with El Matari, Dakkak provided practical assistance for planned foreign incursions—making inquiries with contacts in Syria about connections in Khorasan, helping El Matari plan travel to Afghanistan via Pakistan. He counseled El Matari not to disclose travel plans to the AFP.
The Federal Court control order imposed December 31, 2020 revealed the network's extent. Dakkak was prohibited from contacting 11 named individuals: Isaac El Matari, Wissam Haddad, Youssef Uweinat, Joseph Saadieh, and others. Also prohibited from contacting anyone in the Philippines or Indonesia—consistent with the network's documented interest in ISIS operations in Southeast Asia. During imprisonment, Dakkak maintained contact with El Matari and other extremists. Even conditions designed to prevent communication didn't stop it.
Within 16 days of his release on January 1, 2021, Dakkak breached his interim control order three times. He accessed sermons by Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hazimi justifying violence against perceived apostates—"blood and money is permissible." He searched for material describing execution of apostates and justifications for religious violence. Sixteen days. The extremist beliefs didn't diminish during imprisonment. Upon release, immediate return to prohibited material.
For these breaches, Dakkak was sentenced to an additional 1 year and 8 months imprisonment on April 11, 2022. Released in September 2022. His current whereabouts are unknown. No public information about whether he remains subject to supervision or monitoring.
His prohibited contact list overlaps significantly with similar lists for other convicted terrorists. Documentary evidence of an interconnected network, not isolated individuals. Media operations sustaining extremist ideology. Specific individuals connecting otherwise separate extremists. Ideological commitment maintained through imprisonment. Recidivism upon release. The pattern repeats.
Related Cases
- Booth v Dakkak [2020] FCA 1882 — Control order application revealing network connections
- R v Dakkak [2022] NSWDC 181 — Sentencing for control order breaches
- R v El Matari [2021] NSWSC 1260 — ISIS Commander Australia case documenting Dakkak association