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Does removing Isis members’ British citizenship really make the UK safer?

Analysis: A government-commissioned report warned it could be an ‘ineffective and counter-productive weapon against terrorism’, Lizzie Dearden writes

Monday 19 August 2019 21:05 BST
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Jack Letts, seen here in Isis-controlled Tabqa in 2016, denies he ever joined or fought on behalf of the militant organisation
Jack Letts, seen here in Isis-controlled Tabqa in 2016, denies he ever joined or fought on behalf of the militant organisation

The government’s decision to strip Jack Letts of his British citizenship has reignited questions over its justification for using the controversial power.

The Home Office said the move “is one way we can counter the terrorist threat posed by some of the most dangerous individuals and keep our country safe”.

But the foundation for that claim remains unclear. A report commissioned by the government itself warned that citizenship removal may be an “ineffective and counter-productive weapon against terrorism”.

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