Belgium Debates Expanding Citizenship Revocation for Terrorism Convicts

In Belgium, the deprivation of nationality for a person convicted of terrorism has been possible since 2015, if the perpetrator is sentenced to at least five years in prison and is requested by the public prosecutor’s office. This provision has already been applied to the leader of the Sharia4Belgium organization, Fouad Belkacem, reports the site 7sur7.be.

The media points out that a text has been tabled by MP Koen Mestu (N-VA), which considerably toughens the system, insofar as this deprivation would be automatic in the event of a conviction for any terrorist offense. However, while a critical opinion has been issued by the Council of State, particularly on the automatic nature of the deprivation, the N-VA deemed it appropriate to table an amendment providing that it is a power granted to the judge after a request from the prosecutor.

For its part, the governing coalition has expressed some reservations. On the side of the liberals and the CD&V, there has not yet been a reaction, the media notes. Philippe Pivin (MR) thus argued that there would in any case need to be "a firm conviction and not with a suspended sentence".

Thus, the scope of application also continues to be debated, as was the case under the previous legislature. In practice, according to international conventions, such a law only applies to people who have dual nationality, especially since a person cannot be made stateless. The Interior Committee will pronounce in the coming weeks on the proposal of Wednesday, referred by the Justice Committee.