Italy Revokes Citizenship for Five Linked to Hezbollah Terrorist Group

Italy has recently rescinded the citizenship of five individuals, mostly of Lebanese origin, after they were found to be affiliated with the Hezbollah terrorist group.

This information was disclosed by Italy’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Antonio Tajani, who noted that these individuals had acquired Italian passports through unauthorized means.

“We are revoking the citizenship of five Hezbollah who had obtained a passport through an agency that bogusly bore witness to an ancient Italian ancestor. These are scams and deceptions that are also paid for at a high price,” said Minister Tajani, in reference to how these individuals falsely claimed ancestral ties to Italy.

Under Italian law, individuals who can prove an Italian ancestor—such as a grandparent—are eligible to gain Italian citizenship. This status not only grants Italian nationality but also European Union citizenship, allowing them unrestricted movement throughout EU member states.

Incident Sparks New Debate on “Ius Solis” Citizenship

In a follow-up statement, Minister Tajani used this case to underline his concerns with the current citizenship law, which allows those with Italian ancestry to become citizens. This stance aligns with his long-standing opposition to the current system, as he has pushed for a shift toward “ius solis” citizenship, or granting citizenship by birth within Italy, which he hopes to advance through legislative reform. The Minister’s approach has reignited Italy’s ongoing debate over whether citizenship should be determined by ancestral lineage or by birthplace.

Italian political parties are divided on this issue. Presently, Italian law dictates that non-citizens born in Italy may obtain citizenship if at least one parent is an Italian citizen or later acquires it. According to a report by Istat, titled “Children and Youths 2023,” 58.5 percent of young Italians between 11 and 19 years old support granting citizenship to migrant children born in Italy.

Italy’s Leading Role in Granting EU Citizenship

Italy remains one of the European Union’s leading nations for naturalizing new citizens. Data from Eurostat, the EU’s official statistics office, showed that in 2022, Italy accounted for 22 percent of all citizenship grants within the EU, with 213,700 new Italian citizens. Spain followed with 181,600 grants (18 percent), and Germany with 166,600 (17 percent). The data also highlighted Italy’s rate of naturalizations, showing 3.6 citizenship acquisitions per 1,000 residents in 2022. Key beneficiaries included nationals from Morocco, Syria, and Albania, who received a significant portion of EU citizenship grants that year. 

By fLEXI tEAM