French Premier Pushes Law to Revoke Terrorists’ Citizenship

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is appealing to legislators to approve a divisive bill, prompted by last year’s attacks on Paris, that would revoke the French citizenship of convicted terrorists with dual nationality.

The measure is part of a security bill aiming at changing the Constitution presented Friday to the lower house of Parliament.

Conservatives and the far right welcome the idea, but many on the left say it risks discriminating against minorities of immigrant background. The justice minister resigned in opposition to the bill.

Valls argued Friday that approving the bill would be a gesture of unity against “enemies of the republic” as the government tries to crack down on violent Islamic terrorism.

The Paris terrorists were primarily from France and Belgium but some had family ties to Morocco.