Denmark approves stripping ISIS fighters of citizenship
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Denmark’s parliament approved legislation on Thursday that allows people with dual citizenship who fought for the ISIS group in Syria and Iraq to be stripped of their Danish nationality.
Lawmakers fast-tracked the bill amid concerns that ISISfighters imprisoned by Syrian Kurdish forces could escape amid fighting with the Turkish military and its proxy rebel force.
The legislation allows the minister for immigration and integration to revoke the Danish citizenship of dual national ISIS fighters without a trial. Individuals stripped of their citizenship will have four weeks to appeal against the decision.
A majority of parties in parliament backed the bill after it was amended to include a “sunset clause,” meaning it would expire in July 2021 unless parliament decides otherwise.
Around one-fifth of the 10,000 ISIS fighters imprisoned by Syrian Kurdish forces in northeast Syria are European.
Danish authorities estimate at least 158 people from Denmark traveled to Iraq or Syria to join ISIS since 2012. About 27 are believed to still be in the conflict zone and 12 imprisoned. It is unclear how many are dual nationals.
Other European states have said they intend to strip dual nationals of citizenship despite the United States pressuring them to repatriate their citizens who joined IS.
