The baby of an Australian man fighting with Islamic State has been reportedly murdered by the regime.
The Daily Telegraph reports intelligence agencies believe the baby, an Australian citizen, was killed by ISIS terrorists as punishment for its father’s attempt to flee the bloody conflict.
It has been reported that the man made contact with Australian authorities, looking for assistance in escaping from the battles in Syria and Iraq.
While the Turnbull government did not confirm to the paper the baby’s age or gender, or how it was allegedly killed, a spokesman for Attorney-General George Brandis said it condemned any parent who put their child within reach of Islamic State.
“The government has consistently said going to the conflict zone puts yourself and others in danger,” he said. “We condemn any parent who takes their family to the conflict zone.”
There are about 100 Australian citizens fighting with terrorist organisations in the Middle East. The return of fighters to Australia as ISIS loses ground has been a challenge for authorities, as has what to do with any children born abroad.
The federal government last month announced that it had stripped notorious terrorist Khaled Sharrouf of his Australian citizenship. Sharrouf’s eldest teenage daughter, Zaynab, and slain Sydney terrorist Mohamed Elomar are believed to have had a baby, named Ayesha Sharrouf.
Elomar and Sharrouf travelled to the Middle East in 2013 and shot to global infamy when photos of them were posted online, with Sharrouf’s then seven-year-old son holding the severed heads of pro-Syrian government soldiers.
Meanwhile, Melbourne man and Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash remains in a Turkish prison after being arrested late last year.
Australian authorities are seeking to extradite Prakash.
Source: theaustralian
