Kurd suspect fears IS inmates in NSW jail

A lawyer for alleged terrorist group member Renas Lelikan has pleaded for him to be released from a Sydney jail after he was attacked by inmates who are Islamic State sympathisers.

The 38-year-old Kurdish-born journalist was arrested at his Sydney home in a police raid last week and charged with being a member of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), a listed terrorist organisation.

The PKK is fighting against IS forces in northern Iraq.

Lelikan appeared via video link from Sydney's Silverwater prison at Central Local Court on Thursday to apply for bail.

His barrister Phillip Boulton SC told the court that among the "exceptional" circumstances justifying his release, Lelikan was in danger from other inmates charged with terrorism-related offences.

"He is constantly being attacked and tormented and has been threatened by people who are in prison who are apparently sympathetic to ISIL," Mr Boulton SC said.

Mr Boulton said Lelikan posed no threat to the Australian community, a fact supported by the Australian Federal Police in a media release after his arrest on July 20.

Despite Mr Boulton's pleas, magistrate Carmel Forbes delayed making a decision on Lelikan's bail application until Friday.

Commonwealth prosecutor Imad Abdul-Karim told the court that images obtained of Lelikan dressed like a PKK fighter and posing with weapons, as well as other evidence that he raised funds for the group, proved he was a member of the group.

Witness accounts of Lelikan described him as having "an aura of authority" among other PKK soldiers, Mr Karim said.

Lelikan was charged with being a member of the PKK in France in 2007 and when given bail, fled the country using a relative's passport, the court heard.

He would therefore be a flight risk if released from custody in Sydney and should be denied bail, Mr Karim said.

But Mr Boulton argued that images of Lelikan in military-style "puffy hats" or "camouflage-style shirts" was not evidence of PKK membership and it was normal for journalists in war zones to dress like that.

Lelikan is willing to abide by "house arrest" style bail conditions and his community has banded together to put up more than $2 million surety, he said.

About 60 members of the Kurdish community packed the public gallery in support for Lelikan.

Australian Kurdish Association spokesperson Brusk Aeiveri told reporters outside the court that his friend's incarceration was affecting "every family" in that community.

"He's a very well regarded person, respected in our community," he said.

"Seeing him in a jail is really beyond my belief."