al hara – A Syrian man who was repatriated from Manus Island by the Federal Government has been injured and his father killed during shelling on his village.

Earlier this month, the ABC’s Lateline tracked down Eyad, who had been presumed dead after contact was lost with him when he landed back in the Syrian capital Damascus in August.

Eyad was among the millions fleeing escalating violence and conflict in his country. But his decision to try to get to Australia by boat saw him locked up for two years on Manus Island.

Last month he chose to return home to a country torn apart by war rather than remain one day longer in detention in Papua New Guinea.

The 29-year-old said on his return he was picked up by government intelligence officers who jailed and tortured him for 20 days.

After Eyad was released, he made it home to his village of Al-Hara in Daraa province, where he was reunited with his family, including his wife and two-year-old daughter.

Daraa province is considered one of the most dangerous parts of Syria and Eyad’s village is caught in the middle of ongoing battles between rebel forces and the Syrian government army.

The town is now a battle zone under constant attack by Syrian government forces against a resistance movement trying to hold their ground.

“Some days there is no shelling at all. Other days anytime. Daytime, night time, anytime,” he said. “They decide whenever they want to shell. They do it without any warning.”

Late last month Eyad and his 54-year-old father, Mohamed, were out walking when the shelling started.

“We were in the street just outside the house. We were walking in peace,” he told Lateline. “A shell dropped about four metres from us. The shrapnel killed my father at the spot and I was injured.”

Eyad was hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel.

His father’s death drives home the reality that Eyad has returned to life in a warzone.

“My father was very, very happy when he saw me coming back to Syria,” he said. “He told me that ‘you was done injustice. You were in jail for two years. Thank God that you are now free and in good health’.”

Eyad had arrived on Christmas Island by boat on August 4, 2013 and was later transferred to Manus Island.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information show the Federal Government actively encourages Syrians in detention centres to return home.

Eyad said he was made to sign a waiver before he was flown from Manus Island back to Syria.

“The papers say that I have left with my own will and I am responsible for myself if anything happens to me there. It’s my own responsibility, not the Australian government,” he said.

“I was obliged to sign these papers. I have no other choice. Either to stay in prison on Manus Island or go back to my country.”

He said despite the danger he and his family now live with, he is still glad he returned to Syria.

- ABC