Stripped of citizenship, stripped of dignity? A critical exploration of nationality deprivation as a counter-terrorism measure

Abstract

Gradually, since the terror attacks in New York and London in the early 2000s, deprivation of nationality has come to the fore as a counter-terrorism measure (CT measure). At the same time, the instrumentalised use of nationality deprivation in pursuit of national security goals is a policy that has cropped up in other, arguably very different contexts. This chapter offers a critical exploration of nationality deprivation as a CT measure. It reflects on how citizenship deprivation is distinct as compared to other CT measures, using three different lenses to do so: the far-reaching consequences denationalisation has for the persons concerned, the specific international norms constraining the use of deprivation of nationality, and the inequality inherent in the implementation of citizenship stripping in practice. This will elucidate the impact of deprivation of nationality on human dignity and human security. Finally, this chapter also touches on a number of important and under-explored questions relating to the extent to which deprivation of nationality can be considered an effective instrument in protecting national security and countering terrorism.