29-03-2024 08:36 AM Jerusalem Timing

Australia to Strip Terrorists of Citizenship after Two Killed in Mosul

Australia to Strip Terrorists of Citizenship after Two Killed in Mosul

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised to introduce new laws to strip terrorists of their Australian citizenship, as two of its citizens fighting with ISIL were killed in Mosul last week

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott promised to introduce new laws to strip terrorists with dual nationalities of their Australian citizenship "first thing tomorrow morning," as two of its citizens fighting with ISIL were killed in Mosul last week.Abbott

The legislation going before Parliament tomorrow will "update" the Citizenship Act to take into account modern conflict, Abbott told media at a press conference this morning. "Our country does face a serious terrorist threat, particularly over the last 12 months with the rise and rise of Daesh," Abbott said, using another name for ISIL terrorist group.

There are currently 20 such groups on Canberra's list of terrorist organizations.
  
"If people have become terrorists, our intention as far as we humanly can is to stop them from coming back," Abbott told reporters. "Today's announcement is all about... giving the government additional mechanisms for stopping hardened terrorists returning to Australia."
  
The announcement came as the government sought to confirm reports that two high-profile Australians fighting with ISIL, Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar, were killed in the Iraqi city of Mosul in the past week. The two came to public notice last year after pictures of severed heads were posted on their social media accounts.
 
Canberra has not said if they are dual nationals.

In essence, he continued, citizenship could be stripped from foreign fighters or people who "engage in terrorism-related conduct inspired by terrorist groups" in Australia or overseas, if they are dual nationals.