Lawyers for Queensland teenager Oliver Bridgeman have accused the federal government of doing everything possible to keep him stranded in war-torn Syria.
An arrest warrant was issued for the 19-year-old on Thursday, with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) claiming he travelled to Syria to engage in "hostile activities".
Mr Bridgeman's legal team said the allegations involved his intentions when he entered Syria one year ago.
"Despite presumably having all relevant evidence for 12 months, the AFP has chosen to only now issue a warrant - a matter of days after the filing of an appeal to have Mr Bridgeman's passport returned, so he could come home," the law firm said in a statement.
The AFP had at all times asserted that they only wanted Mr Bridgeman to return to Australia, they added.
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"It seems the government is doing everything possible to ensure Mr Bridgeman remains stranded in Syria," the statement said.
"Without government intervention, it is highly likely he would already be home."
Mr Bridgeman has indicated a willingness to co-operate with authorities.
An AFP spokesman said Brisbane's Joint Counter-Terrorism Team obtained the warrant on Thursday, alleging Mr Bridgeman had made "incursions into foreign countries with the intention of engaging in hostile activities".
On Monday, Mr Bridgeman's legal team told reporters the decision to cancel their client's passport was "nonsensical" and that the teenager had nothing to hide.
Mr Bridgeman has maintained he's doing humanitarian work in the war-torn country after failing to return from a trip to Bali.
He has also maintained a social media presence while abroad, posting on Facebook last month: "No matter what the Australian government say or do, they know that I'm here to help humanity and especially the people of Syria."
