An Australian man of Kurdish origin is begging his government for a passport or temporary travel document to help him flee a refugee camp in Iraq besieged by fighters from the Islamic State.

"Right now my life is in danger," said Renas Lelikan.

"I'm an Australian citizen," he added.  "Australia has to do something for its citizen."

But so far, the Australian government has said no. 

According to Lelikan and his defense attorney in Melbourne, Australian authorities rejected Lelikan's passport application after ruling that he posed a national security risk.