‘Rot in jail’: MPs shut door on Australian ISIS doctor hoping to return
An Adelaide-trained doctor who left Australia to join Islamic State has been told to “rot in jail” after he was reportedly found alive in a Baghdad prison almost a decade after he was believed to have been killed.
Dubbed “Dr Jihad”, Tareq Kamleh was a Perth-born pediatrician who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State and work in its health and propaganda units.
Tareq Kamleh pictured in an ISIS propaganda video. Supplied
Kamleh was presumed by his family and authorities to have been killed in the final 2017 battle at Raqqa in Syria.
Instead, The Australian newspaper reports that Iraqi Supreme Court documents show he is, in fact, in a Baghdad prison and under investigation there.
Kamleh’s family friend, Dr Hamza Amira, told 9News he was “surprised and delighted” by the news of his survival.
“It really made my day, I’m really amazed, how did he come out of this alive?” he said.
It’s believed the 41-year-old is part of a group of 13 fighters from Australia now trying to return home.
Former Adelaide doctor turned IS poster boy
Kamleh studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 2010.
He trained as an intern and registrar at Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
News of Kamleh’s survival comes after the recent controversial return of 10 ISIS brides and their children from Syria, some of whom are now facing criminal charges in Australia.
Iraqi authorities say they are still actively investigating Kamleh’s precise role within Islamic State.
He reportedly maintains he was never a fighter or a terrorist, but simply a medical professional working within the terror group’s health department.
Australian politicians are swiftly closing the door on Tareq Kamleh’s repatriation. Supplied
However, videos released by the terrorist organisation depict the pediatrician equipped for battle, leaving Iraqi counter-terrorism officials suspicious.
“The accused’s activities were not limited to providing medical services. He adopted the extremist group’s propaganda ... advocating for terrorist activity,” the Iraqi Centre for International Judicial Cooperation said.
Kamleh is wanted by the AFP under an active arrest warrant for terrorism offences, including joining and recruiting for a banned terrorist organisation, The Australian reports, adding the Australian embassy in Iraq is understood to be following his case.
‘Rot in jail’
Politicians across the entire spectrum have made it clear that the former IS member is not welcome in Australia.
“As far as I’m concerned, that person can rot in jail,” Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor took a similar line.
He told reporters the Albanese government needed to do more to prevent ISIS-linked Australians returning home.
“We have seen over the last week an ISIS bride get out on bail, and now just in the last day or so, we’ve seen an ISIS terrorist who’s living offshore, wanting to come back to our country,” Taylor said.
“The Labor Party needs to commit to preventing that from happening. They have many levers at their disposal.
“They can ensure that this person does not get a passport, they can use temporary exclusion orders.
“We have put legislation in front of the parliament to prevent third parties from helping people like him, terrorists, back into the country.”
Tareq Kamleh pictured in an ISIS propaganda video. Supplied
An Australian government spokesperson said the safety of the Australian community was its highest priority.
“The government has not and will not provide any assistance to any Australian who made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation,” the spokesperson said.
“We’ve been very clear that for some individuals in this cohort, returning to Australia would mean facing the full force of the law.
Environment and Water Minister Murray Watt shared similar feelings when speaking on Today on Wednesday morning.
“We’ve made it clear for some time now that we won’t be providing any assistance as a government to anyone who’s made the absolutely awful decision to go and join a foreign terrorist organisation,” he said.
Kamleh studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 2010. Supplied
Outspoken One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce also told Today he was fed up with ISIS-linked Australians being allowed back into the country.
“I’m over these terrorists and their wives making their way back to Australia,” Joyce said.
“These are animals. We don’t bring animals or their wives back to Australia.”
When questioned about whether the Australian government has the power to stop ISIS-linked Australians returning, Joyce called for the law to be changed.
“Bring us back to parliament for a full vote for it, that is what a parliament is for, we give you the power,” he said.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said that by joining the barbaric ISIS cult, terrorists like Kamleh had waived any moral claim to Australian citizenship.
“The Australian community’s safety must be protected,” Hanson said.
“Australians don’t want these people coming back, and they’re appalled at the Albanese Labor government’s efforts to bring them back.”
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