In the wake of election promises from the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, Germany is now considering a proposal to revoke German citizenship from individuals with dual citizenship who commit serious crimes.
This initiative, currently being discussed in coalition negotiations with the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), seeks to strip citizenship from “supporters of terrorism, anti-Semites, and extremists who advocate the abolition of a free and democratic order,” according to a draft document obtained by Tagesschau.
Germany’s Basic Law generally prohibits the revocation of German citizenship. However, there are exceptions for dual nationals, such as individuals who voluntarily join terrorist organizations or foreign armed forces. Additionally, citizenship can be revoked if an applicant is found to have deceived officials during the application process, with fraud discovered within ten years.
The country is home to up to 5.8 million people with dual citizenship, many of whom are concerned about the potential impact of this initiative. Some dual nationals, particularly from countries like Syria and Afghanistan, face difficulties renouncing their second citizenship, as their home countries do not offer a process for doing so. As the debate intensifies, some fear being treated as “second-class citizens” in Germany and worry for their safety.
Human rights advocates have raised significant concerns about the proposal. Thomas Gross, a professor of law at Osnabrück University, criticized the lack of clear definitions in the draft document for terms like “extremism,” “anti-Semitism,” and “supporting terrorism.” In an interview with Monitor, he warned that using citizenship revocation as a tool to combat extremism could “open a Pandora’s box.” Gross cautioned that such policies could be “expanded after the next elections and used by far-right forces for completely different purposes.”
