Former Melbourne university student who fled to join Islamic State is captured by Kurdish forces

Former Melbourne university student who fled Australia to join Islamic State five years ago is captured by Kurdish forces

  • Former Melbourne university student who joined ISIS was captured in Syria
  • Mahir Absar Alam was captured by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces 
  • The 26-year-old is now the first Australian caught during ISIS’ last military stand
  • Alam had a phone confiscated after he was communicating with outside world 
  • He left Australia in 2014 with three other Melbourne men, who are all dead

An Australian former student who fled the country to join Islamic State has been captured by Kurdish forces in Syria.

Mahir Absar Alam, from Melbourne, was caught just outside Baghouz in eastern Syria, the last piece of territory held by the terrorist group.

The 26-year-old is being detained by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and is now the first Australian man caught during ISIS’ last military stand, The Australian reported.

Mahir Absar Alam (pictured), from Melbourne, was caught just outside Baghouz in eastern Syria – a squalid, makeshift camp and the last piece of territory held by the terrorist group

A former Australian university student who fled the country to join Islamic State has been captured by Kurdish forces in Syria (Pictured: Syrian Democratic Forces)

A former Australian university student who fled the country to join Islamic State has been captured by Kurdish forces in Syria (Pictured: Syrian Democratic Forces)

Alam posted a message to Facebook as recently as March 6. 

‘New journey,’ he wrote.

It is believed Alam has married since fleeing Australia, but his wife isn’t an Australian citizen.

The former university student left the country to join ISIS in 2014 with three other Melbourne men, just four weeks after the terrorist group launched its caliphate.  

The Australian-born grew up in Loxton, in South Australia, and does not hold citizenship in any other country. 

After graduation high school he moved to Melbourne to study and was an aspiring DJ.

A source told The Australian that Alam had expressed regret over joining ISIS. 

The 26-year-old (pictured) is being detained by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and is now the first Australian man caught during ISIS' last military stand

The 26-year-old (pictured) is being detained by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and is now the first Australian man caught during ISIS’ last military stand

Alam reportedly travelled to Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Turkey before he entered ISIS territory and forfeited his passport.   

He now faces spending time in a prison camp in Syria, and could be taken to Iraq for trial or possibly be deported back to Australia where he could be prosecuted. 

The 26-year-old entered the Islamic State with Suhan Rahman, Mahmoud Abdullatif. Both are now believed to be dead.

Abdullatif left behind wife Zehra Duman, who has since begged to return to Australia, claiming her two children have the right to be treated like ‘normal kids’.

US-born Hoda Muthana was married to Rahman until his death in 2015. She is also in a camp but cannot return to America because she is not a citizen. 

Alam posted a message to Facebook as recently as March 6. 'New journey,' he wrote (pictured: Masked fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces)

Alam posted a message to Facebook as recently as March 6. ‘New journey,’ he wrote (pictured: Masked fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces)

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk