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IN PHOTO: A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa June 29, 2014. The offshoot of al Qaeda which has captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria has declared itself an Islamic "Caliphate" and called on factions worldwide to pledge their allegiance, a statement posted on jihadist websites said on Sunday. The group, previously known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as ISIS, has renamed itself "Islamic State" and proclaimed its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghadi as "Caliph" - the head of the state, the statement said. REUTERS/Stringer

Adam Brookman, a nurse in Melbourne, will be returning to Australia today after he fled Syria from the capacity of ISIS to Turkey, where he surrendered to the Australian Police Federation, or AFP. He could be slapped with charges under terrorism legislation that extends to banning Australians from travelling to "declared places" and aiding terrorism.

Brookman claimed that he has not done anything illegal and he was forced to join ISIS when he went to Syria with the purpose of assisting the Syrian people as a medic. The father of five children told AFP that he fled the group over concerns of violence perpetrated by it including crucifixion. In Syria, he was compelled to serve as a nurse under the ISIS.

The AFP confirmed that Mr. Brookman has not been charged yet. "If there is evidence an Australian has committed a criminal offence under Australia law while involved in the conflict in Syria and Iraq, they will be charged and put before the courts," an AFP spokesman said.

According to a Fairfax Media report, Brookman claimed that he was made to join ISIS after he landed in a hospital controlled by the group for the treatment of injuries sustained in an airstrike. He said he was prohibited from leaving the hospital once he got there.

The ABC News reports that Brookman insisted he did not support what the group followed and was against kidnapping and atrocities that they carried out on other Muslim groups as well as on innocent journalists and civilians. However, he said he doesn’t oppose the crucifixion he saw as he agrees with the capital punishment but not the killing of innocent people.

On the other hand the Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that the authorities refused to accept that the Australian-born Adam Brookman doesn’t support the extremist hardliners including the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate. But at the same time, it would be a challenge for the AFP to gather strong evidence about his activities abroad. An appropriately placed security source told Fairfax Media, "The problem is getting evidence to support our suspicions"

Contact the writer at debleenasarkar26@gmail.com.

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