Australia to Strip ISIS Suspects of Citizenship

Australia is introducing a new law that would strip dual citizens of their Australian citizenship for terror-related crimes.

The law, expected to pass within weeks, would allow Islamic State supporters to be treated the same as Australians who join foreign armies at war against Australia.

"There should be no difference in how we treat Australians who join a hostile army and those engaged in terrorism," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a statement. "Both are betraying our country and don't deserve to be citizens of Australia."

Officials suspect more than 100 Australians are fighting with Islamist groups in Syria, Iraq, and other Mideast countries.

Prime Minister Tony Abbot said up to 50 percent of those fighters are estimated to be dual citizens. The government will allocate some 40 million Australian dollars ($31 million) on programs and community initiatives to discourage its younger citizens from leaving the country to join terror organizations.

Suspected terrorists, meanwhile, could have their citizenship revoked without ever having been convicted.