An Australian member of IS in Syria has pleaded for the federal government to let him return home.
Mahir Absar Alam, 26, left Melbourne to join IS in Syria in 2014 and was recently captured by Kurdish-led forces as IS collapsed.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen to me I just really wish we can all go back home,” he told the ABC.
Mahir Absar Alam talks to the ABC. Source: ABC Australia
Mr Alam told the broadcaster he was not an actual fighter but instead worked as a nurse at an IS hospital.
"They asked me to fight ... They normally force people to fight but I really pushed it - I couldn't fight."
"People need to understand that we didn't rape, we didn't kill, I didn't set anyone on fire," he said.
"I'm willing to face punishment ... I'm willing to do literally anything to come back to Oz right now."
US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in Baghouz, Syria. IS has effectively been defeated by a coalition of allies. Source: AAP
About 230 Australians joined IS since 2012 enticed by the proclamation of a new caliphate.
Adel Salman of the Islamic Council Victoria told SBS News the government should listen to the Australians still there.
“You can’t leave an Australian citizen in limbo, where else would he go, no other nation would take him.”
But he added that "people caught up in this really should have known better".
The fall of the last IS enclave in Baghouz last month triggered waves of western-born recruits requesting permission to be allowed home.
However, the government continues to resist.
“The prime minister’s been very clear, we’re not going to put Australian lives at risk to facilitate the re-entry of people who went to fight against our country and its values,” Attorney-General Christian Porter said.
Deakin University terrorism expert Greg Barton questioned the government.
“Journalists and aid workers can access them, there’s really no excuse for government officials not accessing them as well.”
International law obliges Australia to facilitate the return of terror suspects to face charges domestically.
Mr Barton said our security interests are better served by monitoring the recruits here.
“Detaining them where they don’t go online, they don’t grandstand, some of them may be rehabilitated in which case they can be part of the solution if not at least they’re kept safe and neutral.”
At least 100 Australians are believed to still be among IS forces overseas and that’s not likely to change in an election year.
