Abu Bakar Bashir is bluffing about his views on ISIS, says a terrorism expert, as the radical cleric tries to have his jail term cut.
The founder of the group behind the 2002 Bali bombings was last year photographed making a pledge of allegiance to ISIS from his central Java jail.
Lawyers applying for a judicial review of his 15-year jail sentence say he's now "not supporting anything".
Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict director Sidney Jones says there have been "different stories to different people" about the extent of his support for ISIS.
"Bashir has lied so much over the years that I'm not sure he himself knows the difference between truth and falsehood," she told AAP.
Although his influence has waned and the groups he founded have splintered, Bashir is still seen as an elder statesman of the jihadi movement who commands respect.
"I don't think there is much chance of his petition for judicial review succeeding," Dr Jones said.
"While it would not be the end of the world if it did, rest assured he will continue to spread toxic messages of hate regardless of where he says he stands on the Syrian conflict and regardless of whether or not he is behind bars."
A court will now assess the application from Bashir's lawyers, who want to bring three new witnesses in the bid to have him released.
Melbourne man Jan Laczynski lost five friends in the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
Their families are disgusted Bashir could get a chance at freedom, he said.
"It sends a shiver down our spines," he told AAP.
"It's still a scary situation, it's frightening when these people can walk out with immunity to preach what they want."
Bashir, 77, spent 26 months in jail over the Bali bombings and was then acquitted.
He was returned to jail for helping establish a terror training camp in Aceh.
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