Australian doctor urges Western doctors to join Isis

An Australian doctor who appears in the latest Islamic State (Isis) propaganda video urging Muslims to join the group's self-proclaimed "caliphate" has been named as Tareq Kamleh.

The video, which was uploaded on Friday (24 April) by a pro-IS account, showcases the experiences of several medical practitioners working in IS stronghold Raqqa for the ISHS – Islamic State Health Service.

"My name is Abu Yusuf. I'm one of the medical team here. I came from Australia to the Islamic State to live under the khalifah," he says in the video, calling for other medical professionals to travel to Syria.

"I saw this as part of my jihad for Islam to help the Muslims in the area that I could, which is the medical field and when I got here while I was very happy that I made the decision and I was a little bit saddened by how long I'd delayed it," he said.

"I wish I'd come sooner."

In the video (above), Kamleh says that well-trained doctors are in short supply, and urges others to join him.

"After being here it's disappointing to think how many fellow Muslim brothers and sisters who are in the medical field; doctors and nurses, physios and dentists are still living in the West and unfortunately here the Muslims are really suffering from not lack of equipment or medicine but lack of qualified medical care.

"So I suppose a message I would want to send out to any brothers and sister still living in the west who are considering coming… we really need your help. Any little thing gives the local people who are truly suffering a lot of benefit.

"Please consider coming. Please don't delay. I'll see you soon."

A 'normal guy'

It is not known when Kamleh, who is thought to be in his late-20s, travelled to Syria.

He is registered as a doctor in Western Australia, and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2010.

His Facebook page shows a picture of him posing with a gun, but also reveals a love of Western TV programmes such as How I Met Your Mother, Family Guy and American Dad.

A former Adelaide University student who knew Kamleh told news.com.au that he was a "pretty normal guy" who didn't show signs of fundamentalism at the time, was well known among her group as a "womaniser," and drank alcohol.

Kamleh was also recognised by Dr Stephen Napoli, the co-owner of the Mannum Medical Centre in South Australia, as he had interned at Dr Napoli's practice for 10 weeks in 2010.

"As a doctor he worked quite well; he was quite intelligent, he presented to our practice as quite a sound doctor with good medical knowledge," Dr Napoli told The Age.

"There was no indication I'd be worried about his other associations when he was with us.

"There was nothing that I saw of his work… that would suggest he would have any of these sorts of views."

Video judged 'authentic'

Australian National University terrorism expert Clarke Jones told new.com.au that he was sure the video was authentic.

"This is certainly legit," he said. "It's appealing with the use of the Australian to others, by showing them any ordinary Australian, in this case, can go across there and live a comfortable life beyond their expectations.

"It's appealing to normal, rational people within the educated young crowd and it's not just about fighting now, it's about going over there and supporting brothers and sisters in the Islamic State."

"If we don't start to take a more understanding approach to this, which the Islamic State is beginning to have more appeal than Australia, we are going to continue to lose," he said.