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Australian will strip terror suspects of citizenship

Friday, 04 December 2015 12:34 AM [ Last Update: Friday, 04 December 2015 1:00 AM ]

Australian Attorney-General George Brandis

The Australian Senate has passed legislation that strips dual Australian nationals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities of citizenship.

On Thursday, the country’s upper house of parliament enacted laws empowering the government to take such action against terror suspects holding dual citizenship even in the absence of any conviction.

Arguing in favor of the legislation, Attorney-General George Brandis said it "will enhance Australia's counter-terrorism architecture," adding that "the legislation is as strong as we can make it from a constitutional point of view," suggesting it could survive potential High Court challenges.

Opposing legislators have, however, said the laws would let suspects roam freely around the globe, while they could be kept in Australian prisons. They have also asserted that such people could pose threats to Australian travelers or expatriates overseas.

Prior to the legislation receiving parliamentary approval, Liberal Democrat MP David Leyonhjelm had complained that the bill would dent the rights and freedoms of Australians.

Previously, the country had ratified a law criminalizing travel to the strongholds of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, which is mainly operating in Syria and Iraq, with those charged facing up to 10 years in prison.

Over 120 Australians have reportedly joined the ranks of Daesh. The Australian government estimates that up to half the Australian militants, who have gone to the Middle East to engage in terrorist activities, are dual citizens.

The government has also noted that more than 150 of the country’s nationals currently support Takfiri terrorists financially.

In September, Australian warplanes conducted their first aerial operation in Syria after Canberra joined the so-called US-led coalition targeting purported Daesh positions in the conflict-wrecked country.

This picture taken on September 11, 2015 shows Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18A Hornets refueling to be flown over Syria. ©AFP

Australian aircraft are also operating in Iraq, where Washington and some of its allies have likewise been carrying out air raids against what they claim to be Daesh positions since August 2014.

The combined US-led operations have, however, so far fallen severely short of dislodging the group, which continues to carry out horrendous crimes against members of all communities in Iraq and Syria.

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