Frank Bainimarama: Neil Prakash can’t come to Fiji

Fiji’s PM says the country ‘won’t accommodate’ Neil Prakash, breaking his silence on the issue of the IS recruiter’s citizenship.

Fiji’s prime minister says Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash “cannot come here”, breaking his silence on an issue that began when the former Melbourne man was stripped of his Australia citizenship.

In comments reported by the Fiji Sun this morning, Frank Bainimarama said the 27-year-old “cannot come here because he does not qualify.”

“At any rate, he is a terrorist and a member of ISIS,” Mr Bainimarama said. “We don’t entertain them nor do we accommodate them.”

Fiji’s immigration director Nemani Vuniwaqa also told the news outlet that he had not spoken to the Australian government about Prakash.

This came after Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton yesterday said legal advice given to the Citizenship loss board “leaves us in no doubt in relation to Mr Prakash’s citizenship”.

“The advice to the government in relation to Mr Prakash, as I’m advised, is clear in relation to his Fiji citizenship,” Mr Dutton said.

“Fiji was notified of this case before it was made public and we will continue to work with the Fijians.”

An Australian citizenship can only be stripped if the person is also a foreign citizen.

Mr Vuniwaqa this week said there was no record of Prakash ever holding a Fijian citizenship, and that he would have needed to apply for registration to hold one.