Slain fighter's body to return to Australia

The body of a young Gold Coast man who stepped on a landmine while battling Islamic State militants in Syria will be returned to Australia on Friday.

Reece Harding, in an image posted online. (The Lions Of Rojava/Facebook)

Reece Harding, in an image posted online. (The Lions Of Rojava/Facebook) Source: Facebook

Australian Kurds are being urged to turn out in force to welcome home the body of a Gold Coast man killed while battling Islamic State militants in Syria.

Reece Harding, 23, died late last month after stepping on a landmine while fighting with the Kurdish YPG.

A message posted on Facebook by Lions of Rojava, who support Kurdish efforts to defeat IS, said his body would arrive in Melbourne on Friday.
The post urges Australian Kurds to turn out in force to welcome home "our brother" and embrace him "for what he's done for humanity".

"Bring the most beautiful flowers for him," it said.

A traditional Kurdish funeral is planned for Sunday, before the body is flown to his home state of Queensland for a family funeral on August 1, the post said.

It said the Queensland funeral would be held at the Dream Centre at Carrara on the Gold Coast from 1pm.

"We wish his mother, father and brother all the strength of this world for the days to come," it said.

In a video message released after his death, Mr Harding said he decided to join the fight against IS because the western world was not doing enough to help the Kurdish people who were suffering at the hands of the militants.

Since Mr Harding's death, his family has publicly pushed for Australia and the world to do more.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has drawn a moral distinction between fighting for IS and battling against the extremist group, but has also warned Australians must not go to Syria or Iraq to join the conflict.



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Source: AAP


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