by Matt Walsh
CANBERRA, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government has yet to respond to Australia's request for Melbourne-born Islamic State (IS) recruiter Neil Prakash to be extradited, Australia's Justice Minister said on Monday.
Prakash, one of the caliphate's most prolific propaganda machines and recruiters, was arrested in Turkey earlier this month after spending months on the run, and is expected to undergo questioning by authorities not only from Turkey, but from other nations affected by his extremist recruiting.
Australian Justice Minister Michael Keenan said while they understand the nature and magnitude of the arrest, the Australian government had approached Turkey to secure Prakash's extradition to face disciplinary action in Australia.
"They're very aware of our keen interest," Keenan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Monday. "He's obviously subject at the moment to the Turkish justice system and Turkish legal processes."
Keenan said while Australia had a vested interest in bringing the Melbourne-born man to justice, the federal government understood that Prakash's extremist influence extended well beyond Australia.
"The most important thing, of course, is that people involved in allegations of this nature face justice," Keenan said.
"But it is the case that Turkey and Australia have similar laws, and if you go and fight alongside the Islamic State, if you support these people in the Middle East, then you are committing breaches of law in many countries."
Counter-terror experts agree it could be some time before Prakash is handed over to Australian authorities, if at all.
Read the full story at Xinhua