A court in Turkey has deferred a decision on whether to extradite the Islamic State militant and recruiter Neil Prakash to Australia until 24 May.

Appearing in the Kilis criminal court on Tuesday the Melbourne-born jihadist admitted to being a member of Isis but said he had nothing to do with the group in Australia.

“The charge of being a member of Islamic State, I admit to it, I was,” News Corp Australia reported him saying. “But on the other charge of being a leader of an organisation in Australia, that I had nothing to do with.”

The 26-year-old appeared by video link from a prison north of Kilis. He faces charges in Australia over his alleged promotion of Isis and recruitment of militants to fight for the group in Syria and carry out attacks in Australia.



He was arrested 16 months ago trying to cross the border from Syria into Turkey after deserting Isis, and is being held in jail on terrorism-related charges.

The decision by Judge Ismail Deniz to adjourn an extradition decision came after the prosecution asked for more time to provide a report on whether Prakash should be extradited, News Corp reported.

He is the most senior Australian Isis terrorist to be captured and would be the first senior figure to be extradited and charged under legislation introduced in 2015 in response to the threat posed by the jihadist group.

He left Australia for Syria in 2013 and featured in Isis propaganda videos calling for attacks on Australia and the US.