Germany to strip terror fighters of citizenship in future

The German government plans to introduce legislation enabling authorities to strip Germans with dual nationality of their German citizenship if they fight for a terror group.

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Eleonore Petermann says the new rule will be applicable to over-18s and “for reasons of constitutional law” can only apply to future cases and can’t be used retroactively.

Officials say the legislation will be drawn up soon but do not offer a precise timetable.

German law already allows for dual nationals to be stripped of their German nationality if they volunteer for their other country’s armed forces without the consent of German authorities.

The move comes as Germany and other European countries consider what to do about citizens who fought for the Islamic State group.

— AP