MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Canadian authorities have revoked citizenship of the convicted terrorist for the first time taking advantage of the opportunity stipulated in the new country’s security legislation, Defense Minister Jason Kenney said.
In May, the country amended its Citizenship Act to enable stripping of the citizenship of dual nationals fighting alongside international terrorist organizations or found guilty of terrorism, treason, and spying for a foreign government.
Amara was granted life sentence in 2010 for plotting to bomb downtown Toronto.
“I hope that this case makes people realize what we’re really trying to do here. If you basically take up arms against your country or plan to do so, and you’re convicted in a Canadian court, or an equivalent foreign court, through your violent disloyalty you are forfeiting your own citizenship and we’ll just read it as it is,” Kenney added.
Canada has been tightening security in the wake of two terrorist attacks in October 2014, when two people were killed in a series of shootings at the Canadian National War Memorial in Ottawa, and growing concerns about increased recruitment efforts for terrorist organizations such as the Islamic State.
