Melbourne jihadist killed in Syria 'had been planning to leave IS'

Exclusive: The Melbourne man shot dead in Syria had become disillusioned with fighting and had been planning to escape Islamic State militants, SBS understands.

Sharky Jama

The Melbourne man killed in Syria this week had been planning to leave the Islamic State militant group.

SBS understands Sharky Jama had recently become disillusioned with the militant group, after joining IS militants last year.

He is thought to have told his parents he was going camping in regional Victoria, before leaving the country to join the fighters.

SBS understands he was radicalised predominantly online prior to his departure, and had been in irregular contact with his family via phone, Skype and email.

Somali community leader Aden Ibrahim said the tightknit community had been rocked by the news.

Speaking exclusively to SBS, Mr Ibrahim said he was shocked at both the radicalisation and death of Jama, who he described as a rising star.

“Honestly, I’ve known Sharky for nearly 15 years,” he said.

“He was about 10 years old when I got to know him and I knew him until the last week before his departure. I didn’t know anything wrong about him. He was a model kid, a model child, a model young man.”

Describing Jama as the antithesis of an Islamic State militant, Mr Ibrahim said the well-known community member was a polite, hardworking kid who often played soccer with his own sons.

He said parents needed to remain close to their children in the face of radicalisation, stating that “if it can happen to a person like Sharky, it can happen to any one of us”.

“It’s not a failure of the immediate family only - it’s a failure for the entire community,” he said.

“It’s a failure for all of us because we could not foresee one of us, one of our boys being taken away. I see that as a failure within the community, from top to bottom.”

Mr Ibrahim said community leaders had been educating parents about the dangers of radicalisation – with up to 10 Somali-Australians thought to be fighting in Iraq and Syria - but greater effort was needed from the federal government.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott acknowledged Jama’s reported death on Thursday, issuing a warning to others considering travelling overseas to fight.

"You are a danger to others, you are a danger to yourself,” he said.

“Don't do it.”

His comments came just four days after Jama’s family learnt of his death.

His father Dida Jama confirmed his death to SBS Radio Somali broadcaster Ibrahim Mohamed, who spoke with the family on Wednesday.

Mr Mohamed said Dada Jama had received a phone call on Monday, saying that his son had been shot.

"He was told by his friends," Mr Mohamed said.

"He got a text message and he received a phone call from Syria, someone has told him his son has passed away. Then he said 'I tried his number,' because he has contact with his son. Automatically, it goes to voicemail, that’s what he said, and then he knew that his son is gone.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told SBS the death had not been confirmed.

“The Australian Government’s capacity to confirm reports of deaths in either Syria or Iraq is extremely limited," the spokesman said in a statement. 

“Due to the extremely dangerous security situation, consular assistance is no longer available within Syria.”

Meanwhile friends and family have paid tribute to Jama over social media.

"Rest in peace my handsome lil cousin!" a friend named Habiba Warsame posted on Facebook.

"All them beautiful memories and time we shared I shall keep dear to my heart. May Allah bless your soul and enter you jannat al-firdows."

"May Allah place him in jannatul fardows and may he guide ur family through this tough time sis," a person commented on the status. 

"He died a shaheed!" (martyr), commented another.