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Australia to strip citizenship from terror suspects
Asian workers walk past images of political prisoners plastered on a wall in Malkiya village, Bahrain, Nov
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Asian workers walk past images of political prisoners plastered on a wall in Malkiya village, Bahrain, Nov. 4. Bahrain says it has arrested 47 suspects and seized explosives in a counter terrorism operation, and has again alleged Iranian involvement in militant attacks. (AP/Hasan Jamali) (AP/Hasan Jamali)
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span class="inline inline-center">Asian workers walk past images of political prisoners plastered on a wall in Malkiya village, Bahrain, Nov. 4. Bahrain says it has arrested 47 suspects and seized explosives in a counter terrorism operation, and has again alleged Iranian involvement in militant attacks. (AP/Hasan Jamali)
Australia has enacted laws that enable dual national suspected terrorists to be stripped of their Australian citizenship.
The government estimates that up to half the Australian militants who have gone to the Middle East to fight are dual citizens.
The Senate passed laws late Thursday that would strip citizenship from suspects aged 14 years or older for a range of terrorism-related offenses even if there was no conviction.
Attorney-General George Brandis said the new laws would apply in "very limited circumstances."
"This is a significant piece of legislation which will enhance Australia's counterterrorism architecture," he told the Senate.
Brandis would not guarantee that the laws would withstand any High Court challenge on constitutional grounds.
But he said "the legislation is as strong as we can make it from a constitutional point of view."
The laws do not allow a suspect to be rendered stateless. (kes)(+)
