“The Australian government’s ability to provide consular assistance to those in Syria is severely limited, due to the extremely dangerous security situation and because we do not have an embassy or consulate in Syria,” a government spokesperson said.
Despite this, the former director of two Australian intelligence agencies and founder of the Strategic Analysis Australia thinktank, Michael Shoebridge, said the federal government should seek to negotiate Hajj-Obeid’s return to Australia.
The Australian Centre for International Justice’s acting executive director, Lara Khider, said: “Australia is obligated to investigate any allegations of international crimes committed by this Australian citizen”.
Dr John Coyne, who leads the national security programs at the defence supported Australian Strategic Policy Institute, also said Australia had “an obligation to repatriate its citizens, especially when they have been involved in terrorism related offences”.
“Australians who are in refugee camps or Syrian prisons remain the responsibility of the Australian government and they should be brought back to Australia,” Shoebridge said.
