Australian Politician Goes to Fight ISIS

Matthew Gardiner, the head of the Northern Territory Labor Party in Australia, has left the country to join Kurdish fighters in the battle against ISIS militants. As a result, Gardiner’s membership has been suspended by Territory Labor. Gardiner, 43, served as a combat engineer in Somalia for the Australian Army in the 1990s. It is unknown how many Australians have joined Kurdish fighters, but roughly 90 are believed to be fighting for ISIS or another terrorist group. However, while Gardiner may be joining an ally in the fight against ISIS, a spokesperson fro the Attorney General issued a statement saying, “It is illegal to fight in Syria for either side of the conflict. If you fight illegally in overseas conflicts, you face up to life in prison upon your return to Australia.”