French Government Revokes Citizenship of Man Who Attempted to Join Syria After Charlie Hebdo Attack

It is a decree dated Tuesday, October 22 and published in the Official Journal two days later that establishes the deprivation of French nationality of Fayçal Aït Messoud.

After the attacks against the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo, in January 2015, this 23-year-old man had tried to leave for Syria. However, he did not reach his goal due to a car accident that occurred the same month in Turkey.

In 2018, the young Franco-Moroccan and three other young French people - two men and a woman - involved in the same attempt were tried. The young man had been sentenced to four years in prison. The two other men were sentenced to five years in prison. The only woman was sentenced to three years in prison, one of which was suspended.

According to the lawyer of Fayçal Aït Messoud, all the elements noted by the court as well as his many reintegration efforts and his lack of ties with Morocco make this decree contestable, which is why he intends to file an appeal with the Council of State.