Australia pledges to strip citizenship from dual nationals involved in terror

Australia is to strip dual nationals convicted of terror-related crimes of citizenship. The move, which comes days after French president Francois Hollande was forced to abandon similar plans, was announced with the country on high alert over a possible attack. It will apply to dual nationals who were involved in terror activities, members of a banned organisation or convicted of terrorism offences, immigration minister Peter Dutton said.

There is a very significant penalty to pay if people are involved in terrorist activities and they’re a dual national, they have the potential to lose their Australian citizenship

Immigration minister Peter Dutton

Australia has been a staunch ally of the U.S. and its battle against Islamic militants in Iraq and Syria. It has identified 200 people suspected of being a domestic threat while 100 others had left Australia for Syria to fight alongside organisations such as Islamic State. In addition, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation was working on 400 “high priority investigations” related to potential security threats, Mr Dutton said. The country’s Citizenship Loss Board, responsible for deciding whether or not to cancel the citizenship of a person found to be engaged in terrorism, started work last month, he added.

Parents are horrified at the thought that their 17 or 18-year-old son or daughter could be radicalised online within a matter of weeks and then go to fight in the name of this terrible organisation

Peter Dutton

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