Story Syria Migration

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

3 outlets 3 reports Published Oct 2, 2026

Syria

The brief

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty. Key points and original sources are listed below.

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty.S1 S2

Assembled from source summaries.

Timeline · newest first

2w Brisbanetimes

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty.

2w Theage

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty.

2w Smh

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty.

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

Syria Migration

3 outlets 3 reports Published Oct 2, 2026

The brief

Yusuf Zahab was only 12 when his family took him to Syria, and is now in prison in Iraq with about 12 other Australians, where they face the death penalty.S1 S2

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‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

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‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

‘Still like a child’: Family believes Australian taken to Syria as a boy could be released soon

Sources · 3 citations

Related stories

I pretended my father would be OK. I discovered in his memoir that he lied to me too

I am the child of an immigrant. So are 51 per cent of Australians

‘Sharp practices’ by rogue migration lawyers in Labor’s crosshairs

FULL LIST: Five EU nations plan deportation centres in Africa