Germany vows to strip pro-Hamas immigrants of citizenship

Syrian-born immigrant loses citizenship over his support for Hamas, as Berlin says it will nullify naturalization of immigrants who do not uphold German values.

By World Israel News Staff

Germany’s government said Wednesday it would continue to nullify the citizenship of immigrants who openly defy the country’s “system of values,” after a naturalized Syrian immigrant was stripped of his German citizenship for publicly lauding the Hamas terror organization.

The immigrant, Abdallah, whose last name has not been publicized, came to Germany as a child and was recently naturalized.

One day after he received German citizenship, Abdallah published photos of two Hamas terrorists on his Instagram account, with the caption “Heroes of Palestine.”

Abdallah has also taken part in multiple anti-Israel demonstrations and has on several occasions drawn police attention over his behavior and pro-Hamas rhetoric. According to a report by Bild on Wednesday, Abdallah was detained by police in at least one anti-Israel protest held after October 7, 2023.

The German immigration office was later notified of Abdallah’s open declarations of support for Hamas, prompting an investigation.

Immigration officials eventually determined that Abdallah had lied when he declared his loyalty to German values, enabling them to nullify his naturalization, thus withdrawing his citizenship and confiscating his passport.

According to the Bild report, Abdallah is slated to receive a formal notice from the State Office for Immigration over his loss of citizenship. His passport will be canceled and seized, the report added, though Abdallah will have four weeks to file an objection to the office’s decision.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt defended the move and said Germany would continue to implement a series of immigration reforms passed last year aimed at removing antisemitic, pro-Islamist migrants.

“People who have acquired German citizenship, including dual nationals, have declared their commitment to our system of values,” Dobrindt said.

“If it becomes apparent that this was a deliberate misrepresentation, and that they do not share this system of values… it should be possible to withdraw citizenship.”

Berlin’s mayor, Kai Wegner, praised the immigration office’s decision.

“The commitment to the free democratic basic order during naturalization is no mere formality in our country,” Wegner wrote on X.

“Anyone who believes they can deceive here can convince themselves of the consistent actions of the Berlin authorities. My thanks go to the responsible colleagues.”

In June 2024, Germany amended its immigration laws, requiring that new immigrants declare their loyalty to Germany’s democratic system and to affirm they do not support antisemitism.

The new law also made it easier for state officials to strip immigrants of their citizenship for violating their loyalty oath or for supporting terrorism, extending the deadline for canceling naturalization from five years to 10.