Canada may strip jihadists of citizenship

A revised Canadian immigration law came into force Friday enabling the government to revoke the citizenship of persons convicted of terrorism, treason, spying or taking up arms against Canadian soldiers.

The latter provision is aimed in part at Canadians who travel to Syria and Iraq to join the Islamic State group fighting a US-led coalition that includes Canada.

Canadian lawmakers are concerned about a growing number of youths travelling overseas to join jihadists.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, more than 100 Canadians have joined the IS group’s ranks, including at least a dozen men and women in their teens or twenties who have attempted to make the trip so far this year.

The new immigration law, however, affects only Canadians with dual citizenship.

Australia too is set to introduce new counter-terrorism laws, with the package expected to include stripping dual nationals who are linked to terrorism of their citizenship.

There has also been speculation that the plan to amend citizenship laws, which was disclosed in February, could also affect second-generation Australians who carry only one passport.

“People who are fighting with terrorist groups overseas or who are engaged in terrorist activities here in Australia are effectively taking up arms against us,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the media. “And it’s very hard to imagine that we should allow to remain in the bosom of our country people who are trying to destroy us.”