"Rot in Jail": Australian Minister Slams ISIS-Linked 'Doctor Jihad' Found Alive in Iraq

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'Rot in Jail': Australian Minister Reacts as ISIS-Linked 'Doctor Jihad' Found Alive in Iraq

CANBERRA — An Australian minister has issued a sharp response following reports that former pediatrician Tareq Kamleh, widely dubbed "Doctor Jihad," is alive and detained in an Iraqi prison.

Kamleh, who left Australia in 2015 to join the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group, was long believed to have been killed during the 2017 siege of Raqqa in Syria. However, recent disclosures reveal that he survived, was captured in 2019, and is currently held in Baghdad alongside other foreign combatants.

Key Details:

• Government Stance: Australian Housing Minister Clare O'Neil stated bluntly that Kamleh should "rot in jail" for joining a "violent death cult" and that the government should offer no assistance for his return.

• Legal Obstacles: While ministers expressed zero desire to facilitate his return, senior officials noted that because Kamleh remains an Australian citizen, completely blocking entry poses constitutional challenges under Australian law.

• Pending Charges: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) maintain an active arrest warrant for Kamleh covering multiple terrorism-related offenses. Should he ever step foot back in Australia, he faces immediate arrest and severe prosecution.

Kamleh first gained international notoriety in 2015 after appearing in slick ISIS propaganda videos urging medical professionals to migrate to the extremist group's self-proclaimed caliphate. He is currently being investigated by Iraqi counter-terrorism judicial authorities.