A woman once suspected of being a member of the Islamic State terrorist group was communicating with the sons of infamous Adelaide fugitive Rodney Clavell while she was in jail, the Federal Court has heard.

Key points: The AFP is seeking to gain control over some aspects of Zainab Abdirahman-Khalif's life

The AFP is seeking to gain control over some aspects of Zainab Abdirahman-Khalif's life Ms Abdirahman-Khalif was acquitted of being a member of Islamic State last month

Ms Abdirahman-Khalif was acquitted of being a member of Islamic State last month Her lawyer said since her release from jail she had sought out de-radicalisation programs

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is seeking to impose 21 controls over Zainab Abdirahman-Khalif, who was last month acquitted of being a member of Islamic State.

If granted, the order would be similar to being on parole, allowing authorities to place limitations on her life.

The AFP is seeking to control her employment, social media access — with the exception of Facebook — and will place her on a curfew.

It also wants her banned from driving a heavy vehicle, possessing a firearm and communicating with anyone from Turkey, Syria or Iraq.

The court heard that anti-terrorism police had deemed Ms Abdirahman-Khalif not to pose a risk to the public and a terror attack was "not expected" because she lacked the skills and knowledge.

Commonwealth prosecutor Andrew Berger told Judge Natalie Charlesworth that evidence was not required to prove Ms Abdirahman-Khalif was an IS member and had planned, or would plan, a terrorist attack.

He said laws were designed to "prevent 'a' terrorist act, not 'her' terrorist act" and to "protect the public from the threat of a terrorist act".

"It's not punitive — it's not to punish [Ms Abdirahman-Khalif] for what she has done or what she thinks. It's to protect the public," he said.

"They're not overly onerous. We're not talking about taking away her essential liberties."

Rodney Clavell died during a police siege in 2014. ( Supplied: SA Police )

Mr Berger told the court that Ms Abdirahman-Khalif had been writing and receiving letters to members of the Clavell family while she was incarcerated in Adelaide.

In June, Joshua and Joel Clavell were shot by officers near the Victorian border while they were under the surveillance of anti-terrorism police.

The court was told when 19-year-old Joel Clavell was shot he told officers "he wanted martyrdom" and made "repeated threats to chop off the police officers' heads".

Mr Berger said in August 2019, Nathan Clavell wrote to Ms Abdirahman-Khalif offering her an opportunity to marry Daniel Clavell, the son of notorious South Australian fugitive Rodney Clavell.

Patriarch Rodney Clavell died during police siege in 2014

Rodney Clavell took his own life in 2014, ending a tense stand-off with police in an Adelaide City brothel.

"This contact is a stark illustration of the real possibility those who ascribe to the ideologies, intentions, beliefs and activities of the Islamic State, or hold extremist views, to put it in a nutshell, may seek out Ms Abdirahman-Khalif," he said.

He said she had gained notoriety for being someone who has been charged and acquitted of being a member of IS.

"Even if she does nothing herself to encourage it or seek it out, there is reason for concern that those sort of people will seek her out," he said.

The court heard communication between Ms Abdirahman-Khalif and the Clavell family stopped after she had a visit from two corrections officers.

But Marie Shaw QC, for Ms Abdirahman-Khalif, said the court must be satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that it's likely a terrorist act will occur, unless a control order is made.

She said the letters from the Clavell family were unsolicited and when she was told of the family's criminal background, she ceased communicating with them.

'There is nothing stopping her from being watched'

Ms Shaw said the Commonwealth ran its case at trial that Ms Abdirahman-Khalif tried to travel to Turkey in 2016 to be a nurse and wife of a fighter within the IS community.

Daniel Clavell was offered up to marry Ms Abdirahman-Khalif ( ABC News )

"The trip to Turkey, on the Commonwealth case at trial, was not to commit a terrorist act and was not to support violent attacks," she said.

She said Ms Abdirahman-Khalif had been under police surveillance between July 2016 and her arrest.

"There's nothing stopping her from being under surveillance," she said.

She said since her release from jail, she has sought out de-radicalisation information and programs.

"There's no evidence to support a control order," she said.

Justice Charlesworth said she would make a decision on the interim control order on Friday.