"There is no panacea against terror, but we have an obligation to do everything in our power to reduce the danger of terrorist attacks and of Germans participating in them at home and abroad," German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told AP.
Authorities already have the power to confiscate passports from those they suspect of joining extremist groups, but the new legislation, which still needs to be ratified by the German Bundestag parliament, gives authorities the power to take cards from those suspected of planning to join militants in Syria and Iraq.
German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told the WSJ that the bill will also help protect against terror attacks such as those seen in Paris last week. "We must be determined in protecting the free democratic order with all constitutional means against international terrorism, against fanaticism, against radicalization," he said.
According to Reuters, German officials believe at least 550 Germans have traveled to join fighting in Syria. About 180 are believed to have returned to Germany, with authorities consequently attempting to carry out criminal investigations into their activities while in Syria.
