Australia Passes New Law to Strip Jihadists of Citizenship

Australia on Thursday sought to strengthen its antiterrorism measures, passing a bill that will strip Australian dual nationals of their citizenship if they are suspected or convicted of terrorism.

The new law was one of several terrorism-related ones passed in the country’s upper house, the BBC reported.

Australian has become known for producing jihadist fighters in the Middle East, with at least 90 Australians having joined groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) — about half of them dual citizens.

The new laws only apply to such individuals and will not allow anyone to be left stateless, echoing measures proposed by France’s President Françoise Hollande following last month’s terrorist attacks by ISIS in Paris.

“Dual nationals who engage in terrorism are betraying their allegiance to this country and do not deserve to be Australian citizens,” said Attorney General George Brandis, according to the BBC. He added that the laws would be enforced only in “very limited circumstances.”

[BBC]