Indo-Fijian Neil Prakash, Islamic State terrorist, stripped of Australian citizenship
Neil Prakash, 27, is of Indo-Fijian and Cambodian background, and attended Melbourne’s controversial Al-Furqan Islamic Centre after converting
The Australian Government has stripped Neil Prakash of his citizenship for his affiliation with the Islamic State (IS) group.
Prakash, who is of Indo-Fijian and Cambodian background, is currently in jail in Turkey, where he faces multiple charges related to being a member of IS.
The 27-year-old becomes the 12th dual citizen from Australia to have their citizenship ceased for actions contrary to their allegiance to Australia.
Prakash — who was born in Melbourne — had his Australian passport revoked and the Government has previously attempted to extradite him to Australia from Turkey. Deputy Leader of the House Darren Chester said the Coalition made no apologies “for being tough on terrorists”.
“I think the Australian public would expect the Government to revoke Australian citizenship rights of people who act contrary to that,” Mr Chester said.
“Australian citizenship gives you rights but responsibilities. Responsibilities around allegiance to Australia and not consorting with terrorist organisations.”
Victorian Police minister Lisa Neville welcomed the move by the Federal Government: “This is an individual that Victoria Police have been very, very keen to see extradited back to Australia to face the charges, and to face the community of Victoria.
“We’re hoping that, in the cancellation of citizenship, that the Federal Government can continue to pursue strongly his extradition.
“That’s ultimately what we want to see, because we want him to face the court of law.”
Prakash reportedly a pivotal figure in Islamic State
The Turkish Government has said Prakash must stand trial and serve any jail time he is sentenced to before being extradited.
Prakash has been held in a maximumsecurity jail in Gaziantep, in southern
Turkey, since he was captured in October 2016 trying to sneak across the border from Syria using fake identity papers.
The self-confessed IS member, also known by the alias Abu Khaled al-Cambodi, was described by former attorney-general George Brandis as “the principal Australian reaching back from the Middle East into Australia”.
According to senior counter-terrorism officials, Prakash was a pivotal figure inspiring and encouraging terrorist plots in Australia.
He appeared in IS propaganda urging attacks in Australia and has been linked by the FBI to a failed plot to attack the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Prakash is the subject of an Australian Federal Police arrest warrant for “membership of a terrorist organisation”, “advocating terrorism”, “providing support to a terrorist organisation” and “incursions into foreign countries with the intention of engaging in hostile activities”.