Australia should repatriate and investigate alleged crimes of Islamic state member found in Syria, experts say

<p><strong>Exclusive:</strong> Home Affairs tells the Guardian consular assistance is ‘severely limited’ in Syria, where Mustafa Hajj-Obeid remains in custody</p><ul><li>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></li></ul><p>The Australian government should repatriate, monitor and investigate any crimes committed by a member of Islamic State who was wounded in the extremist group’s final battle, according to multiple security and international law experts.</p><p>Last week, the Guardian revealed an Australian man whose fate was not publicly known <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/21/missing-australian-member-of-islamic-state-found-alive-in-syrian-prison">was alive and in custody in a prison in north-eastern Syria</a>, run by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/09/explainer-main-actors-fall-of-regime-syria-rebel-alliance">Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)</a>.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/24/government-should-repatriate-and-investigate-alleged-crimes-of-australian-member-of-islamic-state-experts-say-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>