Australia’s Home Affairs minister insists stripping Neil Prakash’s Australian citizenship was lawful, amid doubts he’s not a dual citizen.

January 3, 2019

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has stood by a decision to strip Islamic State jihadist and recruiter Neil Prakash of his Australian citizenship and rejected suggestions it renders the 27-year-old stateless.

Mr Dutton says a thorough process was conducted by the Citizenship Loss Board and legal advice from the Australian government solicitor general has been followed.

“I’m saying the advice to the government, based on all the intricate detail and fact of this particular matter, is that Mr Prakash is, by operation of law, a citizen of Fiji,” Mr Dutton told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Melbourne-born Prakash – who is in jail in Turkey facing terrorism charges – was notified at the weekend his citizenship had been annulled because of his connections to IS.

Mr Dutton said Fiji was advised before the decision was made public.

He also said the Australian government has been working with Fiji since that decision but did not explain why.

Earlier, the head of Fiji’s Immigration Department said Prakash, whose father was Fijian, was not one of its citizens, the Fiji Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Professor Donald Rothwell, an Australian National University expert on international law, told Associated Press it was up to Fiji to decide who was Fijian.

“It cannot be assumed even though Prakash and his family may have some connections with Fiji, that his Fijian citizenship would be recognised by the Fijian government,” Prof Rothwell said.

Prakash has been in custody near the border with Syria since 2016 after attempting to enter Turkey with false documents.

His Australian passport was cancelled in 2014 and he was added to a sanctions list in 2015.

Prakash has previously admitted being a member of Islamic State but said he had nothing to do with the group in Australia.

He faces a potential life sentence if convicted in Australia of terrorism offences.