Australia's move to strip IS suspect of citizenship in doubt

Australia's decision to strip a suspected Islamic State fighter of citizenship was thrown into doubt Wednesday, after it emerged he was not a dual citizen as once believed.

Neil Prakash is accused of being a member of the jihadist group, and was named late last month as the 12th Australian dual-national to lose their passport over terrorism links.

But authorities in Fiji told local media that Prakash was not in fact a Fijian as Australian authorities believed, prompting questions about the legality of the Australian government's move.

Australian law allows citizenship to be revoked only if that person is a dual citizen.

Prakash - a suspected senior recruiter for IS who has been linked to terror plots to kill Australians - is currently facing charges in Turkey of joining the organisation.

Fiji's Immigration Department director, Nemani Vuniwaqa told the Fiji Sun that "Neil Prakash has not been or is a Fijian citizen. He was born in Australia and has acquired Australian Citizenship since birth."