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Closed petition Revoke citizenship/benefits from anyone who supports or has supported terrorism
The Government should revoke citizenship and access to benefits from anyone who supports or has supported terrorism.
More details
Home Office guidance states that anyone who "incites, justifies or glorifies" terrorist violence or "seeks to provoke others to terrorist acts" will ordinarily be denied citizenship. However, there are individuals in the UK holding citizenship that have supported terrorist groups. This petition is to revoke citizenship and access to benefits from anyone who supports or has supported terrorism and already holds citizenship.
This petition is closed All petitions run for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 16 October 2024
Current powers already allow for deprivation of citizenship of the most dangerous people such as terrorists, extremists and serious organised criminals; and for those obtaining citizenship by fraud.
Section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981, provides that the Secretary of State may by order deprive a person of citizenship status if the Secretary of State is satisfied that it is conducive to the public good, and the person will not be left stateless as a result of deprivation, or where the person has acquired citizenship as a result of registration or naturalisation that was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of a material fact. Individuals deprived of their citizenship lose any entitlements and benefits associated with British citizenship status, including the right to hold a British passport.
Deprivation of citizenship where it is conducive to the public good is used in cases where individuals pose a threat to national security, or have been involved in war crimes, serious and organised crime, and unacceptable behaviours such as extremism or glorification of terrorism, unless to deprive would render them stateless.
The Immigration Act 2014 augmented section 40 by amending it to introduce a new power to deprive a naturalised British citizen on conducive grounds even if this would make the person stateless, where the person has conducted themselves in a manner seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the UK and there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person could, under the laws of another country or territory, become a national of that country or territory. “Seriously prejudicial” is a high threshold, which would include individuals involved in terrorism, espionage and taking up arms against British or allied forces.
Deprivation decisions are made following careful consideration of advice from officials and lawyers and in accordance with international law, including the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Each case is assessed individually. A person deprived of citizenship can seek to exercise their statutory right of appeal against the decision - even if not aware of their deprivation at the time.
Home Office