A Turkish court has rejected the Australian government’s request to extradite Islamic State militant Neil Prakash to face terror charges in Australia
The verdict paves the way for his release from a maximum-security prison, in south-eastern Turkey where he has been held since 2016 in an attempt to cross the Syrian border.
In a court hearing held in May, the Melbourne born and raised Prakash maintained that he was a “normal soldier” and not in any leadership position in IS.
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has expressed disappointment at the Turkish court's decision to reject the extradition of Prakash, stating that the Australian government will continue to negotiate with Turkish officials.