Tareq Kamleh

Tareq Kamleh

Name	Tareq Kamleh
Birth name
Birth date	1985
Birth place	Perth, Western Australia
Death date
Death place
Alma mater
Occupation	Former medical doctor
Years active
Organization
Known for	Joining the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Tareq Kamleh (born 1985) is an Australian former medical doctor who gained international notoriety after joining the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in 2015. Kamleh, who was trained as a pediatrician, appeared in ISIL propaganda videos, urging other medical professionals to join the group.

Early Life and Education

Tareq Kamleh was born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1985. He completed his medical degree at the University of Adelaide, where he specialized in pediatrics. Kamleh was known to be a competent and well-regarded medical professional before his radicalization.

Medical Career

Before joining ISIL, Kamleh worked in various hospitals across Australia, including the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the Mackay Base Hospital in Queensland. He was described by colleagues as a dedicated doctor with a promising career in pediatrics.

Radicalization and Joining ISIL

In 2015, Kamleh appeared in a video released by ISIL, where he was seen working in a hospital in Raqqa, Syria, the de facto capital of ISIL at the time. In the video, Kamleh, who adopted the name "Abu Yusuf al-Australi," called on other medical professionals to join ISIL and provide medical care to its fighters and civilians living under its control.

Kamleh's decision to join ISIL shocked his colleagues and the Australian public. His actions were widely condemned, and he was subsequently stripped of his medical license by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Legal Consequences

In 2016, the Australian government issued a warrant for Kamleh's arrest, charging him with terrorism-related offenses. As of the last reports, Kamleh remains at large, and his current whereabouts are unknown. He is believed to have remained in ISIL-controlled territories until their collapse.

Impact and Controversy

Kamleh's case has been cited in discussions about the radicalization of professionals and the role of propaganda in recruiting individuals to extremist causes. His story highlights the challenges faced by governments and communities in preventing radicalization and addressing the return of foreign fighters.

Also see

• Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
• Radicalization
• Foreign fighters in the Syrian and Iraqi Civil Wars
• Counter-terrorism in Australia