Australia seeks to allow stripping citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorist offenses

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Australia has proposed a new law to empower courts to strip Australian citizenship from dual nationals convicted of terrorism, foreign interference, and espionage offenses.

“Certain serious and significant conduct (of a citizen) can sever … common bond (with the state) and, in extreme cases, represent a repudiation of a person’s allegiance to the State,” says the bill, which arrived in Parliament last week.

“In these cases, a citizenship cessation regime is required to uphold the integrity of Australian citizenship,” it adds.

The government rushed to introduce the bill after facing defeat in the case of Abdul Nacer Benbrika, who was convicted in 2008 of terrorism offenses.

Born in Algeria, Benbrika was held guilty of “leading a terror cell that had plotted to blow up Australian landmarks,” according to local ABC News.

He was given 15 years in prison and his citizenship was revoked before a court overruled that move.

The new bill proposes that the country’s home minister can apply to a court to strip a dual national of Australian citizenship “where the person’s conduct in the commission of a serious offence or offences is so repugnant to Australia’s interests and values.”