Melbourne man accused of planning to leave Australia to fight ISIL granted bail

A Melbourne man accused of planning to leave Australia to fight against the Islamic State has been granted bail.

Jamie Williams, 28, is charged with attempting to travel to a foreign country for "hostile activity".

He was stopped at Melbourne airport on December 28 last year after being identified as a potential foreign fighter and had his passport seized.

Police allege the Epping man was planning to travel to Qatar to join Kurdish forces fighting ISIL in northern Iraq.

Officers allegedly found military-style equipment and clothing within his luggage.

He was arrested on July 27 while he was at home cooking dinner with his girlfriend. He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 28 wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "War Dog".

He will attend a court hearing in October.

ISIL control much of northern Iraq and Syria and the Kurdish minority in the region have waged their own war against the terror group alongside Western military operations.

Queensland men Reece Harding and Ashley Johnston both died earlier this year while fighting for the Kurdish YPG militia.

Harding's parents told the ABC's 7.30 program last month that people fighting against ISIL should be treated more favourably than Australians joining the terror group.

"We've got to change public opinion for these foreign fighters that are fighting against ISIS and allow them to come home safely," father Keith Harding said.