appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

liveArticle

appConfig

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sectionsV2

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

json

Reuters

Australia’s attempt to strip citizenship from an alleged recruiter for Islamic State has been thrown into doubt after Fiji reportedly said he was not one of its citizens.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said on Saturday that the country was much safer after the government revoked Neil Prakash’s Australian citizenship.

Canberra believes Prakash – who is wanted over an alleged plot to behead a Melbourne police officer – is a dual national because his father was Fijian.
A person with such dual status can be stripped of their Australian citizenship if they engage in terrorism-related conduct. Islamic State was declared a terrorist organisation in 2016 for this purpose.
However, the government cannot revoke single Australian citizenship as that would leave a person stateless.

Fiji’s Immigration Department director Nemani Vuniwaqa said Prakash was not one of its citizens, the Fiji Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday. “Neil Prakash has not been or is a Fijian citizen. He was born in Australia and has acquired Australian citizenship since birth,” he was quoted as saying. “The department has searched the immigration system and confirms that he has not entered the country nor applied for citizenship since birth.”
If Prakash does not hold dual status, the way could be opened for a legal challenge against the Australian government as he may be legally entitled to retain his citizenship.


The Home Affairs Department on Tuesday was unable to officially confirm whether Prakash was a Fijian citizen.
“A person may only lose their Australian citizenship under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 if they are a national or citizen of a country other than Australia,” said a departmental representative.
“Australia is committed to upholding our international legal obligations, including our obligation not to render a person stateless.”
Prakash has been in Turkey on trial for charges relating to being a member of Islamic State since being detained there in October 2016 after leaving territory controlled by the terrorist group.
Canberra is seeking his extradition pending the outcome of his trial and any jail term he serves in Turkey. If later convicted in Australia, he would also serve time there.
Australia strips citizenship from alleged Islamic State recruiter


Recognise the need to protect our children from online threats

Takaichi bound for Australia to strengthen economic, security ties

Hong Kong’s new vaping ban is a healthy step forward

Ukraine sees path to Japanese arms after Tokyo eases export rules

Australia

Fiji disowns Islamic State recruiter, upsetting Australia’s bid to strip him of citizenship

Neil Prakash, also known as Abu Khaled al-Cambodi, in a photograph from an IS propaganda video. Photo: YouTube

Nemani Vuniwaqa

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 20, 2018 shows Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton (2nd R) speaking at Parliament as Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (bottom L) looks at his notes in Canberra. - Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's tenuous grip on power came under intense pressure on August 23 with the man who wants his job launching a second leadership challenge in a week and senior ministers defecting. Former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-wing conservative, said he was confident he now had the numbers to unseat Turnbull, considered a moderate. (Photo by SEAN DAVEY / AFP)

Another Australian lawmaker quits over dual citizenship ban

Liberal MP John Alexander has quits over Australia’s dual citizenship ban for parliament. Photo: EPA

Conservative Liberal party MP John Alexander laughs as he stands with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a visit to a printing company in Sydney, Australia, April 4, 2017. Picture taken April 4, 2017. AAP/Paul Miller/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVE. AUSTRALIA OUT. NEW ZEALAND OUT.

News

Asia

Australasia

Canberra believed Melbourne-born Neil Prakash was a dual national, but Fiji says they have no record of him ever applying for citizenship
Under Australian law, the government cannot revoke citizenship if it would leave the affected person stateless


Canberra believed Melbourne-born Neil Prakash was a dual national, but Fiji says they have no record of him ever applying for citizenship


Pacific nations

Islamic State