"Just a normal, young Australian", is how Fahim Awang is described by a respected elder in WA's Muslim community after his deportation from India on Thursday on suspicion of being an IS supporter. 
Family friend and President of the WA Muslim Theological Council, Sheikh Faizel Gaffoor, told Radio 6PR that Mr Awang had been "stupid" to repost an earlier Facebook photograph of himself, stripped to the waist, brandishing an AK-47 in front of Muslim literature.
"I don't blame Indian authorities, they had to do what they thought was right," he said.
"But context is important, this [posing with a weapon] is something Mr Awang did six to eight years ago. He was charged with weapons offences at the time and dealt with. The past should be the past."
The Indian Express newspaper reported on Saturday that authorities deported "the Australian national on strong indications that he was an Islamic State supporter".
Malaysia-born Mr Awang was detained after he landed in New Delhi on Thursday night after a flight from Perth.
"On receiving a tip-off, officers questioned Mr Awang and [allegedly] found jihadi literature, including Islamic State propaganda on his laptop," the newspaper reported.
Also on the laptop was the photo of him with the AK-47 and another of him with a pistol.
Authorities deemed him "too dangerous to allow him to enter India" and he was sent back to Perth where his family lives in Beckenham.
Mr Awang was said to be travelling with his father and a group of men to a conference in India to further their Islamic studies.
It is understood that he and his father are now in Malaysia where they are in communication with their lawyer and relevant Australian authorities in a bid to "clear the air" before their return to Perth.
Sheikh Gaffoor said he had known Mr Awang for more than 20 years.
"It was a shock when I read the media articles. I thought 'this is impossible', he said.
"Awang has never been someone to support ISIS in any way, shape or form."
The council president said the alleged "tip-off" to Indian authorities was not consistent with what actually happened.
"He didn't have a laptop with him and the social media photograph was from an earlier time when he was 'a bit rebellious'," Sheikh Gaffoor said.
"Posting a photograph like that is just simple attention-seeking stupidity."
The sheikh said he was confident that Mr Awang had no inclination toward violence or aggression and he was no advocate for ISIS.
"There are no signs that indicate instability [a leaning toward jihad] with this young man," he said
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