Netherlands revokes citizenship of 4 alleged jihadis

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Netherlands’ justice minister has revoked the Dutch citizenship of four people the government alleges travelled to a foreign conflict zone to join a terrorist organization.

The action announced Wednesday marks the first time Justice Minister Stef Blok has used new powers to revoke the citizenship of alleged jihadis. The identities of the people affected by the decision were not released.

Speaking to reporters at the Dutch Parliament, Blok said the four were believed to have travelled to Syria. He said they all were dual Dutch-Moroccan nationals.

They also have been declared “undesirable aliens,” which means they cannot legally return to the Netherlands or to any other country in the European Union’s Schengen passport-free travel zone.

Scores of Dutch citizens have gone to Syria and Iraq in recent years to join Islamic extremist groups.