TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 2019Removing his citizenship does
not make us any safer
A report warns it could be an ‘ineffective and counter-productive
weapon against terrorism’. By Lizzie Dearden
Jack Letts, seen here in Isis-controlled Tabqa in 2016
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”.