Is it permissible to give zakat al-fitr to someone who recently converted to Islam but does not pray?

The questioner:
Please, Mansur from Riyadh. Peace be upon you. And upon you be peace. Long may you live. We have a driver who converted to Islam eight months ago. Yes. Of his own free will, but for eight months I have not seen him pray, even though we have reminded him many times. Is it permissible to give him from the zakat al-fitr? Well, this driver converted to Islam in Ramadan, Honorable Shaykh, of his own free will. Famous. Eight months ago, and he says, Honorable Shaykh, we do not see him praying now, so is the zakat al-fitr given to him?

The Shaykh:
Did you not order him to pray? If you ordered him to pray.

The questioner:
We ordered him to pray.

The Shaykh:
And he disobeyed.

The questioner:
I do not want to disobey, but, if Allah wills, it is just like this, I mean.

The Shaykh:
He disobeyed, meaning he did not do what he was ordered to do. So he is not given from the zakat al-fitr; because his Islam is not valid, and he is intentionally abandoning the prayer. Yes.