Neil Prakash listed for targeted financial sanctions over Isis affiliation

One of Islamic State’s top recruiters, the Australian Neil Prakash, has been listed for targeted financial sanctions, the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has confirmed.

The United Nations-regulated financial sanctions make it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 10 years in jail, to offer any form of material support to those suspected of terrorist activity.

The formerly Melbourne-based Prakash now goes by the name Abu Khaled al-Cambodi and is believed to be fighting with Isis in Syria.

“Prakash sought to commission violent terrorist acts, including in Australia, and to recruit others, including young Australian women and girls, to travel to Syria and Iraq to join the Daesh terrorists,” Bishop told parliament on Thursday. “Prakash incited vulnerable young people to commit violent extremist acts, including in Australia.

“Currently 93 persons and entities from Australia and around the world have been listed for financial sanctions. That list includes other Daesh members, Mohamed Elomar and Khaled Sharrouf.

“We are committed to starve this terrorist organisation Daesh of foreign fighters from Australia and elsewhere, to starve it of funds, resources, so that we can combat terrorism and keep our people safe.”

Bishop told parliament last week that Australian authorities were monitoring about 30 Australians who have returned from fighting in overseas conflicts.

Security agencies estimate that 35 Australians have died fighting abroad and a further 110 are still in Iraq and Syria. Scores of others are involved with the terrorist group via financing and recruitment.

Australians fighting abroad face a jail sentence of 25 years if they attempt to return home, and the federal government is pushing to strip dual nationals accused of terrorism of their citizenship.

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