MOSCOW, September 29 (RIA Novosti) - Dutch authorities have revoked 49 passports of those willing to return to the country after fighting with the IS in Syria and Iraq or suspected in planning to join terrorist groups overseas, as announced by the Dutch Minister of Justice Ivo Opstelten in a statement, published by NL Times on Monday.
"The law will be toughened with the aim of withdrawing Dutch nationality from jihadists who have joined an armed terrorist group, even without a criminal conviction," he said, stressing that those involved in recruiting activities or trained in terrorist camps can also be deprived of their national ID documents, according to Expatica.
New toughening measures arise from the fear that extremists fighting in the Middle Eastern countries will come home to carry out terrorist attacks.
According to Patheos, the worries about the threat posed by returning fighters are exaggerated. Most of those inspired by the radical ideology are not willing to come back home from their new “heaven”. Those who are, usually return disillusioned with the Islamist ideology and are unlikely to be involved in any terrorist activities again. However, many European countries consider former ISIS fighters returning home a serious challenge to European security.
“We have toughened up now on the issue of passports and the watch on our ports and airports for returning fighters”, said Britain’s Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, adding that 60 returning fighters have recently been taken into custody.
Currently, British intelligence services are observing the activities of 500 British citizens who went to Syria and Iraq to join the terrorist network.
