The Law Library of Congress, Global Legal Research Center 

(202) 707-6462 (phone) • (866) 550-0442 (fax) • law@loc.gov • http://www.law.gov

Treatment of Foreign Fighters 

in Selected Jurisdictions 

December 2014
This report is provided for reference purposes only. 

It does not constitute legal advice and does not represent the official 

opinion of the United States Government. The information provided 

reflects research undertaken as of the date of writing. 

It has not been updated.
Contents 

United Nations .................................................................................................................................1 

European Union ...............................................................................................................................3 

Country Surveys...............................................................................................................................7 

Maps: 

Surveyed Countries Taking/Considering Measures on Foreign Fighters ......................................50 

Surveyed Countries that May Limit Rights to Passports or Citizenship for Foreign Fighters ......51 
The Law Library of Congress 1

Treatment of Foreign Fighters in Selected Jurisdictions 

Staff of the Global Legal Research Center 

SUMMARY This report contains information on provisions in place or being considered by the United 

Nations, the European Union, and seventy-three countries on the treatment of individuals 

who join and fight for terrorist organizations in foreign countries. A number of countries 

are considering action now following the September 2014 adoption of a United Nations 

Security Council resolution expressing concern about the threat of foreign terrorist 

fighters. Many nations, as illustrated below, already have punishments applicable to such 

fighters, including imprisonment and/or loss of citizenship. In a number of jurisdictions, 

penalties for joining terrorist organizations increase when the individual recruits others or 

undergoes military training with those organizations. A unique approach is being taken in 

one city in Denmark, where instead of facing punishment, returning fighters are being 

given study or employment opportunities. In addition to the report on these jurisdictions, 

two maps have been included to illustrate the findings. 

Although research was done, no information could be located regarding existing or 

planned laws specifically dealing with foreign fighters in Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, 

Brazil, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican 

Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, 

Hong Kong, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macau, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nicaragua, 

North Korea, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, São Tomé e Príncipe, Thailand, Timor 

Leste, Uruguay, or Venezuela. 

I. United Nations 

On September 24, 2014, the United Nations Security Council, expressing grave concern about 

the increasing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and by individuals who are recruited by 

the so-called Islamic State (IS, also known as ISIL or ISIS); the Al-Nusrah Front; and other cells, 

unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2178 of 2014 condemning such groups and individuals.1

 

The Resolution was adopted under chapter VII of the UN Charter and is binding on the Member 

States. However, the Resolution is not self-executing and requires UN Members to take 

measures domestically or internationally through bilateral or multilateral agreements to deal with 

the issues raised by foreign fighters.2

Resolution 2178/2014 requires that the UN Member States take action to prevent and suppress 

“the recruiting, organizing, transporting or equipping of individuals who travel to a State other 

than their States of residence or nationality” with the intent to commit, plan, or participate in 

 

1

 S.C. Res. 2178, U.N. Doc. S/RES/2178 (Sept. 24, 2014), http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol= 

S/RES/2178%20%282014%29. 

2

 Sean Davis, Policy Brief: Responding to Foreign Terrorist Fighters: A Risk-Based Playbook for States and the 

International Community, GLOBAL CENTER ON COOPERATIVE SECURITY (Nov. 2014), http://www.globalcenter. 

org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Nov2014_Responding-to-FTFs_SD.pdf. 
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terrorist acts or to be trained as terrorists, as well as the financing of their travel and 

other activities.3

 

A. Prosecution and Punishment of Offenses 

In compliance with Resolution No. 1373/2001, which was adopted in the aftermath of the 

September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the US, the Security Council required all Member States 

to enact legislation to prosecute and punish the following offenses: 

 Traveling or attempting to travel, on the part of their nationals and other individuals, to 

another state with the intent to commit, plan, prepare, or participate in terrorist acts or with 

the intent to be trained. 

 The willful collection of funds, through any means, by their nationals or in the territories of 

the Member States with the intent to finance the travel of individuals in third states in order 

to commit terrorist acts or to receive training in cells. 

 The willful organization or facilitation, including recruitment, of the travel of individuals to 

other countries with the intent to commit, plan, prepare, or participate in terrorist acts, or for 

the provision or reception of terrorist training.4

 

B. Prevention of Entry or Transit 

Member States are required to take measures to prevent the entry or transit through their 

territories of any person for whom the state “has credible information that provides reasonable 

grounds to believe that he or she is seeking entry into or transit through their territory” in order to 

commit the acts described above, including any acts or activities demonstrating that an individual 

or entity is associated with Al-Qaeda, as provided for in Resolution No. 2161/2014.5

 As in 

Resolution No. 2178/2014, Member States are not obliged to deny entry to or order the departure 

from their territories of their own nationals or permanent residents.6

 

C. Airline Passenger Information 

Resolution No. 2178/2014 called on Member States to require airlines flying above their 

territories to submit advance notification of passenger data to the national authorities in order to 

enable them to prevent entry into or transit though their territories of persons who are listed on 

the Al-Qaeda Sanctions List kept by the Committee, which was established by Resolution No. 

1267/1999 and Resolution No. 1989/2011.7

 

 

3 Id. cl. 5. 

4 Id. cl. 6(a)–(c) (citing S.C. Res. 1373, U.N. Doc. S/RES/1373 (Sept. 28, 2001), http://www.un.org/en/sc/ 

documents/resolutions/2001.shtml (scroll to number)). 

5

 S.C. Res. 2161, U.N. Doc. S/RES/2161 (June 17, 2014), http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol= 

S/RES/ 2161%282014%29. 

6

 S.C. Res. 2178, supra note 1, cl. 8. 

7 Id. cl. 9. 
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D. International Cooperation 

Resolution No. 2178/2014 also called on Member States to improve international and regional 

cooperation with the aim of preventing the travel of foreign terrorist fighters from or through 

their territories, through the sharing of intelligence, best practices, and a deeper understanding of 

the patterns of travel.8 

II. European Union 

A. Introduction 

In implementation of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution No. 2178/2014, the 

European Union (EU) institutions have been mobilized to assess whether existing legislation on 

combating terrorism covers the criminal activities associated with the phenomenon of foreign 

fighters. The Council of the European Union has urged the Parliament to endorse the 2011 

Passenger Name Record Directive, which requires airlines to transfer passenger data to national 

authorities. The Directive is expected to assist in the apprehension of foreign fighters who travel 

to other countries or return to the EU. In addition, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator has 

proposed a number of measures to address the problem of foreign fighters, as discussed below. 

Since 2013, at the EU level, the threat posed by foreign fighters has been at the forefront of the 

agenda of EU institutions and bodies. Central to the ongoing discussions and debates is the 

question of whether existing EU legislation is sufficient to deal with new legal issues posed by 

returning foreign fighters in areas such as the gathering and admissibility of evidence in 

compliance with the rule of law, financial investigations, and the question of judicial cooperation 

with third (non-EU) states. Eurojust has announced that it intends to present a report on foreign 

fighters to the Council of the EU.9

 

Estimates of fighters returning from zones of terrorist operations to the EU Member States vary 

During parliamentary discussions, Gilles de Kerchove, the EU’s counterterrorism coordinator, 

presented an estimate of more than three thousand. Eurojust President Michèle Coninsx claimed 

that there were close to two thousand, and Rob Wainwright, director of the EU’s police agency 

Europol, gave an estimate in the low thousands.10

 

8 Id. cl. 11. 

9

 Press Release, EUROJUST, Anti-terrorism: Eurojust in the European Parliament – Foreign Fighters in Focus (Nov. 

6, 2014), http://www.eurojust.europa.eu/press/News/News/Pages/2014/2014-11-06_LIBE-Committee-debate.aspx. 

10 MEPs Clash with EU Officials Over Foreign Fighters, EU OBSERVER (Nov. 5, 2014), http://euobserver. 

com/justice/126396. 
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B. EU Institutions 

1. Council of the European Union 

In August 2014, the European Council decided to accelerate the implementation of the June 2013 

package of twenty-two measures adopted by the European Terrorism Coordinator (ETC).11 On 

October 10, 2014, the Justice and Home and Affairs Council agreed to adopt the EU Passenger 

Name Record (PNR) Directive (see below) and called on the European Parliament to endorse it 

immediately. The Council also agreed to improve checks at the external borders of the Schengen 

area, under the existing legal framework.12

In light of Resolution No. 2178/2014 of the Security Council of the United Nations adopted on 

September 24, 2014, which is binding on the EU and its Member States, the European Council 

also made public a document issued by the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator with the intention of 

initiating a debate as to whether or not the existing EU legal framework on terrorism deals 

adequately with the phenomenon of foreign fighters and whether additional measures are 

needed.13 The document is addressed to the delegations of the EU Members and requests that 

they also review their national legislation to ascertain whether it is compliant with UN 

Resolution No. 2178/2014 and whether they intend to amend the legislation.14

The paper noted that while Framework Decision 2008/919/JHA,15 which amended Decision 

2002/475/JHA on Combating Terrorism16 to introduce three new offenses related to public 

provocation, recruitment, and training for terrorism, may be sufficient to dismantle 

recruitment/facilitation of networks, such as Sharia4Belgium, it may not be sufficient to 

prosecute individual foreign fighters who travel on their own. In addition, the difficulty of 

collecting evidence on activities in foreign jurisdictions was also recognized.17 The paper also 

highlighted that some EU Members have already criminalized or intend to criminalize the 

following offenses: 

 

11 Note from EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator to Delegations, Effective Criminal Justice Response to the 

Phenomenon of Foreign Fighters (Oct. 14, 2014), http://www.statewatch.org/news/2014/oct/eu-council-is-strategy14188-14.pdf. 

12 Press Release, Council of the European Union, Council Discusses Further Action Regarding Foreign Fighters 

(Oct. 10, 2014), http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage/showfocus?lang=en&focusID=114086. 

13 Note from EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, supra note 11. 

14 Id. at 6. 

15 Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on Combating Certain Forms and Expressions 

of Racism and Xenophobia by Means of Criminal Law, 2008 O.J. (L 328) 55, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/ALL/;ELX_SESSIONID=PJyGJmFf9wpZgyDJlsRVmwBtDF6Htpg1pn0Mnqz5g48HvtSG0Wd0!40452

7651?uri=CELEX:32008F0913. 

16 Council Framework Decision 2002/475/JHA of 13 June 2002 on Combating Terrorism, 2002 O.J. (L 164) 3, 

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/;ELX_SESSIONID=NhnwJmxFwNDPTLSPlbTPvrLngnz3 

Zhkd1dqTpRQXMkkYpLf3Xphv!1738154466?uri=CELEX:32002F0475. 

17 Note from EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, supra note 11, at 3. 
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 Preparation to receive terrorist training, for example in the case of preparing to travel to 

conflict zones. 

 Buying material for explosives and engaging in suspect financial movements in order to 

commit terrorist acts. 

 Traveling in spite of passport removal and against orders not to travel. 

 Active participation in an armed conflict in a third country. 

 Offenses committed by family members by not disclosing information, which is significant 

in preventing a terrorist attack.18

2. European Commission 

a. Passenger Name Record Directive 

Currently pending before the EU Parliament is the Commission’s 2011 proposal for a Directive 

on the transfer of Passenger Name Record data by commercial airlines to Member States 

authorities for extra-EU flights or intra-EU flights, if Member States so wish, for the prevention, 

detection, investigation, and prosecution of terrorist offenses and serious crime.19 In 2013, the 

Civil Liberties Committee voted down the proposal for not complying with the standards of 

necessity and proportionality.20 Once approved, it is expected, as argued by Europol, to assist 

the EU Members in apprehending foreign fighters.21

b. Radicalization Awareness Network 

The European Commission’s Radicalization Awareness Network (RAN), which brings together 

more than seven hundred experts and practitioners throughout the EU, assists the EU Members 

in their efforts to fight radicalization at the national and local levels. The working group RAN 

Internal and External Dimensions (RAN INT/EXT), focuses on the role of the diaspora in 

fighting radicalization and “foreign fighters.”22

 

18 Id. at 4. 

19 Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Use of Passenger Name Record Data for the 

Prevention, Detection, Investigation and Prosecution of Terrorist Offences and Serious Crime, COM (2011) 32 final 

(Feb. 2, 2011), http://www.statewatch.org/news/2011/feb/eu-com-eu-pnr-com-32-11.pdf. 

20 Press Release, European Parliament, Civil Liberties Committee Rejects EU Passenger Name Record Proposal 

(Apr. 24, 2013), http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20130422IPR07523/html/CivilLiberties-Committee-rejects-EU-Passenger-Name-Record-proposal. 

21 Jeniffer Baker, EU Battles Over ‘Anti-terrorist’ Passenger Records Slurper Law, THE REGISTER (Nov. 11, 2014), 

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/11/this_time_they_want_all_your_passenger_data_to_fight_terrorists/. 

22 RAN Internal and External Dimensions (RAN INT/EXT), European Commission, Justice and Home Affairs, 

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/networks/radicalisation_awareness_network/about-ran/ran-intext/index_en.htm (last updated July 4, 2014). 
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c. Communication on Preventing Radicalization 

In January 15, 2014, the Commission presented a Communication on Preventing Radicalization 

to Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Strengthening the EU’s Response.23 The Communication 

suggests various measures to be taken by the EU with the Member States to prevent and curb 

radicalization, such as developing national strategies to fight radicalization; training 

practitioners, social workers, police, and prison staff to recognize those at risk;24 and developing 

exit strategies.25 The Commission also proposes to improve the role of the RAN Secretariat to 

assist the EU Members in combating violent extremists.26 

3. Counter Terrorism Office Proposals 

In May 2013, the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator (CTC), in a paper on Foreign Fighters and 

Returnees from a Counter-Terrorism Perspective, in Particular with Regard to Syria,27 suggested 

twenty-two measures to fight the “serious problem” posed by foreign jihadists. The CTC 

suggested that Member States and EU institutions and agencies should take action on the 

following key measures by the end of 2013: 

 The Commission should continue to share the expertise gained from the Radicalization 

Awareness Network (RAN) with Member States.; 

 Member States are to reinforce their contributions to the Check the Web security portal 

instituted by Europol and assess the possibility for Europol to extend its mandate to 

monitoring and analyzing social media concerning foreign fighters. 

 The High Representative is to appoint an Arabic-speaking EU spokesperson to reach out to 

the Arab media. 

 Invite the Netherlands to present the results of a study designed to analyze the existing 

systems of monitoring or alerting suspicious travel movements. 

 Invite Eurojust to draft a report on the results of its work on foreign fighters and in particular 

to assess the legislation in the EU Member States, the use of administrative sanctions, and the 

improvement of information exchange concerning investigation and prosecution, and make 

specific proposals. 

 

23 Communication from the European Commission to the Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 

Social Committee, and the Committee of the Regions, on Preventing Radicalisation to Terrorism and Violent 

Extremism: Strengthening the EU’s Response, COM (2013) 941 final (Jan. 15, 2014), http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/homeaffairs/e-library/documents/policies/crisis-and-terrorism/radicalisation/docs/communication_on_preventing_ 

radicalisation_and_violence_promoting_extremism_201301_en.pdf. 

24 Id. at 6. 

25 Id. at 7. 

26 Id. at 5. 

27 CTA, FOREIGN FIGHTERS AND RETURNEES FROM A COUNTER-TERRORISM PERSPECTIVE, IN PARTICULAR WITH 

REGARD TO SYRIA (May 28, 2013), http://www.statewatch.org/news/2013/jul/eu-council-terr-coordinator-syria9946-13.pdf. 
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 Invite FRONTEX to provide an analysis of the various routes used by foreign fighters and 

contribute to a proposed handbook dealing with “risk indicators” used to detect foreign 

fighters. 

 Invite the High Representative to assign the European External Action Service (EEAS) to 

send high-level diplomats to third countries, including Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, 

Libya, the countries of the Western Balkans, and others to emphasize the significance of 

dealing with the issue of foreign fighters and to establish concrete measures to improve the 

cooperation and exchange of information with those countries. 

 Invite the High Representative to prepare Heads of Mission reports concerning the situation 

in a third country and measures to improve collaboration and information exchange. 

 

III. Country Surveys 

Afghanistan 

Though there are no official estimates, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation 

and Political Violence (ICSR) has reported that there may be up to twenty-three Afghan foreign 

fighters in Syria. Afghanistan’s main antiterrorism law is the Law on Combat Against Terrorist 

Offences, 2008, but this appears to be jurisdictionally limited to crimes committed with some 

sort of nexus with Afghanistan.28 Certain crimes against the state are set forth under the Penal 

Law for Crimes Committed Against Internal and External Security of the Democratic Republic 

of Afghanistan, 1987.29 The Law prohibits treason, which includes “[j]oining efforts of or 

collaboration with foreign countries, organizations, or anti state groups in carrying out their 

hostile activities against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.”30

Afghanistan’s Penal Code lists a number of offenses as “Crimes against external security of the 

State.” A person commits such an offense when he or she, “without the permission of [the] 

State, summons soldiers or performs other acts of aggression against a foreign state, as an effect 

of which the State of Afghanistan confornts [sic] the danger of war,”31 or “performs an act 

outside the country which, one way or another, damages national interests.”32

In Afghanistan citizenship can be forfeited if a person is “indicted in treachery to the country and 

to the nation” or is “[s]erving the army of a government busy in war with Afghanistan.”33

 

28 Law on Combat Against Terrorist Offences, 2008, available at https://www.unodc.org/tldb/pdf/Afghanistan_antiterrorism_law_2008.pdf. 

29 Penal Law for Crimes Committed Against Internal and External Security of the Democratic Republic of 

Afghanistan, available at https://www.unodc.org/tldb/showDocument.do?documentUid=1917. 

30 Id., ch. 1, art. 1. 

31 AFGHAN PENAL CODE art. 196(1) (Oct. 7, 1976), available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/4c58395a2.html. 

32 Id. art. 197(1)(b). 

33 Law on Citizenship of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (June 24, 2000), art. 31, available at

http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?docid=404c988d4&page=search. 
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Albania 

The Albanian legislature is reportedly considering amendments to its national Penal Code aimed 

at criminalizing fighting in Syria or in other similar conflicts. According to the proposal, those 

Albanian citizens who participate in a military conflict abroad while not being a citizen or 

resident of the country where the conflict is taking place, and not being a member of a regular 

military force of this country, will be sentenced to more than ten years of imprisonment.34

Algeria 

Article 87 bis (6) of the Algerian Penal Code specifically criminalizes the involvement of 

Algerian citizens with any terrorist groups outside the country, even when the relevant acts are 

not directed against Algeria.35 

Armenia 

Despite attacks by Islamists on ethnic Armenians in Syria, Armenia officially does not take sides 

in the conflict, although some legislators have suggested recruiting irregular forces to go and 

fight on the government side in Syria.36 Reportedly, border control authorities prevent Armenian 

volunteers from traveling to Syria.37 Criminal law punishes with imprisonment for up to seven 

years those who join terrorist groups and participate in foreign military forces.38

Australia 

The Australian Parliament passed the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign 

Fighters) Bill 2014 on October 30, 2014, about five weeks after it was introduced in the Senate.39 

 

34 Prison for Albanian Jihadists, GAZETA SHEKULLI BLOG (Feb. 25, 2014), http://www.gazetashekulli.org/ 

2014/02/25/prison-for-albanian-jihadists/. 

35 PENAL CODE OF ALGERIA, promulgated by Order No. 66-156 of 1966, as amended, available on the website of the 

Algerian General Secretariat of Government, at http://www.joradp.dz/TRV/APenal.pdf (in Arabic). 

36 Arpi Harutyunyan, Armenia Stays Neutral on Syrian War, INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING (CRS 

Issue 735, May 14, 2014), http://iwpr.net/report-news/armenia-stays-neutral-syrian-war. 

37 Id. 

38 CRIMINAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA of Apr. 18, 2003, ch.33, art. 395, http://www.parliament.am/ 

legislation.php?sel=show&ID=1349&lang=rus#3a (in Russian). 

39 Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014, PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA, 

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s976 (last 

visited Nov. 12, 2014); Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Act 2014 (Cth), 

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014A00116. See also Kelly Buchanan, Australia: Foreign Fighters Bill 

Introduced in Parliament, GLOBAL LEGAL MONITOR (Sept. 30, 2014), http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/ 

servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205404139_text. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security made 

thirty-seven recommendations that included a range of amendments to the bill: Parliamentary Joint Committee on 

Intelligence and Security, Advisory Report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) 

Bill 2014 (Oct. 2014), http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Intelligence_and_ 

Security/Counter-Terrorism_Legislation_Amendment_Foreign_Fighters_Bill_2014/Report1. These changes were 

accepted by the government and passed by the Parliament. Press Release, Hon. George Brandis QC, Government 

Response to Committee Report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014 
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The legislation amended a number of existing statutes in order to implement the government’s 

response “to the increased threat of terrorism posed by Australians engaging in, and returning 

from, conflicts in foreign States.”40 Key provisions in the legislation include the following: 

 Amendments to the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)41 to create new offenses of “advocating 

terrorism”42 and of entering or remaining in a “declared area” of a foreign country in which a 

terrorist organization is engaging in hostile activity.43

 Extensions to the applicability of both the control order regime 44 and the preventative 

detention order regime45 under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) until September 2018, 

when the relevant provisions (as amended by the 2014 bill) will expire if they are not 

extended again through legislation passed by the Parliament. 

 Amendments to the Australian Passports Act 2005 (Cth) to introduce a power to suspend a 

person’s Australian travel documents for fourteen days if requested by the Director-General 

of Security. Further amendments will allow for a person to not be notified of a decision to 

refuse or cancel a passport if essential to national security or if such notification would 

adversely affect an investigation into a terrorism offense.46 The law already allows for a 

person’s Australian passport to be canceled if it is suspected that he or she is likely to engage 

in conduct that might prejudice the security of Australia.47

 Amendments to the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) to introduce a delayed notification search warrant 

system48 and to lower the legal threshold for arrest of a person without a warrant for 

terrorism offenses.49

 (Oct. 22, 2014), http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/Mediareleases/Pages/2014/FourthQuarter/22October2014-

GovernmentresponsetocommitteereportontheCounterTerrorismLegislationAmendmentForeignFightersBill.aspx. 

40 Cat Barket et al., Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014, PARLIAMENTARY 

LIBRARY BILLS DIGEST NO. 34, 2014–15, at 6 (Oct. 17, 2014), http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/ 

legislation/billsdgs/3452969/upload_binary/3452969.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22legislation/billsd

gs/3452969%22. 

41 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014C00748. 

42 Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014: Revised Explanatory Memorandum 5, 

29 (Oct. 2014), http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/s976_ems_c21ea737-5e59-4cdb-bceb7af5e22aa6a9/upload_pdf/398980.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf. 

43 Id. at 7, 47. 

44 Id. at 6–7, 32–33. See also Lisa White, Australia: Terrorism Laws: Control Orders (Law Library of Congress, 

Oct. 2008), http://www.loc.gov/law/help/australia-terrorism-laws/control-orders.php. 

45 Revised Explanatory Memorandum, supra note 42, at 6, 39–40. See also Lisa White, Australia: Terrorism Laws: 

Preventative Detention & Prohibited Contact Orders (Law Library of Congress, Oct. 2008), 

http://www.loc.gov/law/help/australia-terrorism-laws/preventative-detention.php. 

46 Revised Explanatory Memorandum, supra note 42, at 4, 12–13. 

47 Australian Passports Act 2005 (Cth) s 14, http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2014C00558. 

48 Revised Explanatory Memorandum, supra note 42, at 5, 23–24. 

49 Id. at 5, 22. 
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In introducing the bill in the Parliament, the Australian Attorney-General, Hon. George Brandis 

QC, stated that around 160 Australians had 

become involved with extremist groups in Syria and Iraq by travelling to the region, 

attempting to travel or supporting groups operating there from Australia. While this is 

not the first time Australians have been involved in overseas conflicts, the scale and 

scope of the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and the number of Australians presently involved, 

is unparalleled and demands specific and targeted measures to mitigate this threat.50

A further bill, the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014, was introduced 

in the Parliament on October 29, 2014.51 One of the aims of the bill is to facilitate improved 

cooperation between the Australian Secret Intelligence Service and the Australian Defence Force 

(ADF) in the context of the Australian government’s decision to authorize the ADF to undertake 

operations against IS in Iraq.52 

Austria 

In parliamentary correspondence dated October 7, 2014, Austrian Interior Minister Johanna 

Mikl-Leitner took note of a package of measures to fight jihadism that had already been made 

public. The package includes a ban on terrorist symbols, an amendment to the Border Inspection 

Act, and the withdrawal of Austrian citizenship from dual nationals who choose to fight for 

foreign groups.53 More specifically, some of the measures54 presented on September 15, 2014, 

by the Austrian Peoples Party (Österreichische Volkspartei, ÖVP) to combat the IS terrorist 

organization include 

 revocation of Austrian citizenship of dual nationals who have fought abroad in a paramilitary 

unit (at present, this can occur only if the person serves in a regular foreign army); 

 

50 Commonwealth, Parliamentary Debates, Senate, 24 September 2014, 6999 (George Brandis, Deputy Leader of 

the Government in the Senate, Vice-President of the Executive Council, Minister for Arts and Attorney-General), 

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansards/381f44a1-fb0b-4400-8e8c97e98d79f489/toc_pdf/Senate_2014_09_24_2854_Official.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22chamber/

hansards/381f44a1-fb0b-4400-8e8c-97e98d79f489/0174%22. 

51 Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014, PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA, http://www.aph.gov. 

au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s982 (last visited Nov. 13, 2014). 

52 Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014: Explanatory Memorandum ¶¶ 5–11 (Oct. 2014), 

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22legislation%2Fems%2Fs982_ems_

a8ef0a8b-6845-4e3c-942e-12c2d3c0417d%22. 

53 Innenausschuss befasst sich mit Dschihadismus und Flüchtlingsansturm: Mikl-Leitner sucht für Eintragung von 

Fehlgeburten juristische Lösung [Interior Committee Deals with Jihadism and Refugee Onslaught: Mikl-Leitner 

Searches for Legal Solution for Registration of Abortions], Parliamentary Correspondence No. 874 (Oct. 7, 2014), 

http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/PR/JAHR_2014/PK0874/index.shtml. 

54 Kampf gegen IS: ÖVP stellt Maßnahmenbündel vor [Fight Against IS: ÖVP Introduces Package of Measures], 

GMX (Sept. 16, 2014), http://www.gmx.at/magazine/politik/kampf-is-oevp-stellt-massnahmenbuendel-30067776; 

Donna Rachel Edmunds, Austria Announces Tough New Anti-Jihad Laws as Europe Cracks Down on Defectors, 

BREITBART (Sept. 17, 2014), http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/09/17/Austria-Announced-ToughNew-Anti-Jihad-Laws; Austria Bans Isis Terror Symbols, THE LOCAL (Sept. 12, 2014), http://www.thelocal.at/ 

20140912/austria-bans-isis-terror-symbols. 
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 amendment of the Border Control Act55 to permit foreign travel of minors outside the EU 

only with the consent of their parents or guardians; 

 expansion of police powers to permit, in cases of terrorism and serious crime, extension of 

the period of data retention (at present, data on terrorist suspects must be deleted after a 

maximum of nine months); and 

 imposition of a ban on IS symbols and icons, through tightening the Badges Act 

(Abzeichengesetz), which prohibits Nazi insignia, as well as symbols, flags, and uniforms 

from banned organizations.56

The Austrian Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism 

(Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz und Terrorismusbekämpfung, or BVT), in its 

Verfassungsschutzbericht 2013 [Constitutional Protection Report 2013], had discussed the 

potential danger of Austrian foreign fighters returning home in general but had not elaborated 

much on possible solutions.57 In June 2013, the BVT Director reportedly stated that Austrian 

fighters in Syria present a “very difficult problem” for the country’s security agencies because of 

the “potential danger” they will pose upon their return to Austria.58 About 140 Austrians have 

reportedly fought beside jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria.59

Azerbaijan 

In October 2014, twenty-six alleged fighters for Islamist groups, IS among them, were arrested 

on their return to Azerbaijan. 60 Current legislation imposes a criminal punishment of 

imprisonment for up to eight years for joining terrorist groups and participating in foreign 

military forces.61

 

 

55 Bundesgesetz über die Durchführung von Personenkontrollen aus Anlaß des Grenzübertritts (Grenzkontrollgesetz 

– GrekoG) [Federal Act on the Implementation of Checks on Persons on the Occasion of Crossing the Border 

(Border Inspection Act – GrekoG)], BUNDESGESETZBLATT [BGBL.] Nr. 435/1996 (Aug. 20, 1996), as last amended 

by BGBL. I Nr. 68/2013, https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzes 

nummer=10005985&ShowPrintPreview=True. 

56 THE LOCAL, supra note 54; Abzeichen verboten werden (Abzeichengesetz 1960) [Prohibition of Badges (Badges 

Act 1960) (Apr. 5, 1960), BGBL. Nr. 84/1960, as last amended by BGBL. I Nr. 113/2012, http://www.ris.bka. 

gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10005262. 

57 Edwin Bakker et al., Dealing with European Foreign Fighters in Syria: Governance Challenges and Legal 

Implications (ICCT Research Paper, Dec. 16, 2013), http://www.icct.nl/publications/icct-papers/dealing-witheuropean-foreign-fighters-in-syria-governance-challenges-and-legal-implications. 

58 Id. (citing Verfassungsschutz: Heimische Kämpfer in Syrien, ÖSTERREICHISCHER RUNDFUNK (June 24, 2013), 

http://orf.at/stories/2188377/). 

59 ‘Extremism Prevention’: Austria to Amend Century-Old Law on Islam, RT (Oct. 3, 2014), http://rt.com/news/ 

192768-austria-islam-funding-koran/. 

60 Audrey Altstadt, Could This be ISIL’s Next Target?, THE NATIONAL INTEREST (Oct. 29, 2014), http://national 

interest.org/blog/the-buzz/could-be-isils-next-target-11563. 

61 CRIMINAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN (Sept. 1, 2000), art. 114.3, available at http://www.legislation 

line.org/download/action/download/id/1658/file/4b3ff87c005675cfd74058077132.htm/preview. 
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Bahrain 

Article 13 of Law No. 58 of 2006 specifically criminalizes the acts of any citizen who joins or 

cooperates with terrorist organizations or groups based outside the country.62

Bangladesh 

There have been news reports of Bangladeshi nationals going to fight in Syria but there do not 

appear to be any official numbers or estimates.63 On September 29, 2014, news reports stated 

that a twenty-four-year-old British citizen had been arrested in Bangladesh “on suspicion of 

recruiting people to fight alongside” IS or Nusra Front militants in Syria.64 

Bangladesh’s main antiterrorism law is the Anti-terrorism Act 2009 and it applies 

extraterritorially, but only when a person commits a terrorist offense against a Bangladeshi 

national or property abroad. 65 It contains provisions that criminalize terrorist activities, 

membership and support of prohibited organizations, and terrorist financing. The authority to 

revoke citizenship or cancel passports is provided in the Citizenship Act, 1951 66 and the 

Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973.67 Under the Citizenship Act 1951 a naturalized citizen can 

only be deprived of his or her citizenship if it is in the public interest and in certain 

circumstances, such as (1) disloyalty to the Constitution, (2) communication or assistance with 

an enemy of which Bangladesh is at war, or (3) where the citizen “has within five years of being 

naturalised been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a term of not less than twelve 

months.”68 A passport can be revoked or impounded “if the passport authority deems in [sic] 

necessary to do so in the interest of sovereignty, integrity or security of Bangladesh, or in the 

public interest.”69 

 

 

62 Law No. 58 of 2006 on the Protection of Society from Terrorist Acts, available on website of the Legislation and 

Legal Opinion Commission, at http://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/LegislationSearchDetails.aspx?id=2125 (in Arabic). 

63 See RICHARD BARRETT, THE SOUFAN GROUP, FOREIGN FIGHTERS IN SYRIA 13 (June 2014), http://soufan 

group.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/TSG-Foreign-Fighters-in-Syria.pdf. 

64 Serajul Quadir, Bangladesh Arrests Briton for Suspected Islamic State Recruitment, REUTERS (Sept. 29,2014), 

http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/09/29/mideast-crisis-bangladesh-idINKCN0HO0QY20140929. 

65 Anti Terrorism Act, No. 16 of 2009 § 5, available at http://www.bangladesh-bank.org/openpdf.php (in Bengali). 

66 Citizenship Act, No. 2 of 1951, http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/print_sections_all.php?id=242. 

67 Bangladesh Passport Order, President’s Order No. 9 of 1973, http://www.dip.gov.bd/sites/default/files/ 

PassportOrder_0.pdf. 

68 Citizenship Act § 16. 

69 Bangladesh Passport Order § 7(2)(c). 
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Belgium 

The Belgian government believes that between three hundred and 350 Belgian citizens and 

residents either have been or are currently involved as fighters in the Syrian conflict.70 A 1979 

law prohibits the recruitment of Belgian citizens by foreign armed forces and authorizes the 

government to prohibit Belgian citizens from joining foreign armed forces.71 Anyone found 

guilty under this law may be punished by three months to two years of incarceration.72 While 

this law appears to automatically prohibit the act of recruiting, or facilitating the recruitment of, 

Belgian citizens, it does not automatically prohibit Belgians from joining a foreign armed body. 

Indeed, the law stipulates that a government decree is required for this.73 

Following elections that took place in May 2014,74 a new coalition government was recently 

formed and sworn into office on October 11, 2014.75 This new coalition expressed its intention 

to adopt the “urgent and necessary” measures to apply the 1979 law to Belgian citizens who 

participate in foreign conflicts such as in Syria.76 It plans on increasing the possible sanctions 

provided by the law, including the possibility for courts to strip dual citizens of their Belgian 

citizenship, and to temporarily or permanently expel noncitizens from Belgian territory.77

Bosnia and Herzegovina 

In April 2014, the legislature of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted amendments to the country’s 

Criminal Code that extend the prison terms for convicted terrorists to up to ten years. The 

amendments apply to recruiters working for radical Islamist organizations, punishing them with 

terms of imprisonment of no less than five years. Those who join “in any way a foreign 

 

70 Belges en Syrie: La loi anti-djihad est sur la table des négociateurs [Belgians in Syria: The Anti-Jihad Law on the 

Negotiators’ Table], LA LIBRE BELGIQUE (Sept. 15, 2014), http://www.lalibre.be/actu/politique-belge/belges-ensyrie-la-loi-anti-djihad-est-sur-la-table-des-negociateurs-54173eae35708a6d4d56724a. 

71 Loi du 1 aout 1979 concernant les services dans une armée ou une troupe étrangère se trouvant sur le territoire 

d'un Etat étranger [Law of August 1, 1979, Regarding Service in a Foreign Army or Troop in the Territory of a 

Foreign State] (as amended Apr. 22, 2003), http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/arch_a1.pl?sql=%28text+ 

contains+%28%27%27%29%29&rech=1&language=fr&tri=dd+AS+RANK&value=&table_name=loi&F=&cn=19

79080130&caller=archive&fromtab=loi&la=F&ver_arch=001. 

72 Id. art. 4. 

73 Id. arts. 2 & 3. 

74 Résultats des élections 2014, sixième réforme de l’Etat et Sénat réformé [2014 Elections Results, Sixth Reform of 

the State and Reformed Senate], PORTAIL BELGIUM.BE (official Belgian government portal) (May 26, 2014), 

http://www.belgium.be/fr/actualites/2014/news_elections_2014_sixieme_reforme_etat_senat_reforme.jsp?referer=tc

m:116-248638-64-a3. 

75 Prestation de serment du nouveau gouvernement fédéral [New Federal Government Sworn Into Office], PORTAIL 

BELGIUM.BE (Oct. 11, 2014), http://www.belgium.be/fr/actualites/2014/news_prestation_nouveau_gouvernement_ 

federal.jsp?referer=tcm:116-256893-64-a4. 

76 La lutte contre la radicalisation va s’intensifier [The Fight Against Radicalization Will Intensify], LA LIBRE 

BELGIQUE (Oct. 9, 2014), http://www.lalibre.be/actu/politique-belge/la-lutte-contre-la-radicalisation-va-s-intensifier5436a09235708a6d4d5cedcd. 

77 Id.
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paramilitary and parapolice formation” are subject to no less than three years of imprisonment.78 

Reportedly, in September 2014, the State Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina ordered a one-month 

detention for five Islamists accused of recruiting people to join fighters in Syria and Iraq.79 

Bulgaria 

An interdepartmental group formed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Justice 

has been created in Bulgaria with the purpose of drafting a bill aimed at criminalizing the 

participation of Bulgarian citizens in terrorist organizations, including IS. It is expected that the 

new law will be introduced in the National Assembly before the end of 2014. The law will 

provide for the arrest of any person with a Bulgarian passport who is proven to be a part of a 

terrorist group upon crossing any European border.80 

Canada 

Canada has made a number of legislative changes in order to address the growing problem of 

foreign fighters in conflicts like Syria and Iraq. In September 2004, 81 Canada’s passport 

regulations, the Canadian Passport Order, was amended to give Canada’s Citizenship and 

Immigration Minister the explicit authority to “refuse or revoke a passport if the Minister is of 

the opinion that such action is necessary for the national security of Canada or another 

country.”82 In early February 2014, the head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service 

(CSIS) said that approximately thirty Canadian citizens or nationals are foreign fighters in 

Syria.83 

Canada’s Criminal Code was amended in 2013, pursuant to Bill S-7, the Combatting Terrorism 

Act, to make it a criminal offense for a person to leave or attempt to leave Canada for the 

purpose of participating in the activity of a terrorist group.84 A person convicted of such an 

indictable offense is liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than ten years. Canada’s 

 

78 CRIMINAL CODE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA art. 162B, OFFICIAL GAZETTE OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, No. 

47/14, English translation available at http://www.coe.int/t/dlapil/codexter/Country%20Profiles/Legislation/BiH 

%20Criminal%20Code%20Article%20162b%20-%20draft.pdf. 

79 Drazen Remikovic, Balkan Countries Unite Against ISIL, SETIMES.COM (Aug. 10, 2014), http://www.setimes. 

com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2014/10/08/feature-01. 

80 Bulgaria Takes Important Step to Stop “Home-Grown” Jihadists, STANDART NEWS (Oct. 31, 2014), 

http://www.standartnews.com/english/read/bulgaria_takes_important_step_to_stop_homegrown_jihadists-6072-

6072.html. 

81 Investigation and Decision Making Process in Passport Refusal and Revocation Files–Category Three: Refusal or 

Revocation of Passport Services on Grounds of National Security, PASSPORT CANADA, http://www.ppt.gc.ca/ 

protection/cat3.aspx?lang=eng (last modified Sept. 2, 2014). 

82 Canadian Passport Order, SI/81-86, § 10.1, http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SI-81-86/FullText.html. 

83 Stewart Bell, Canadians Fighting in Syria Could Pose ‘Immediate’ Threat To National Security When They 

Return: CSIS, NATIONAL POST (Feb. 3, 2014), http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/02/03/canadians-fighting-in-syriacould-pose-immediate-threat-to-national-security-when-they-return-csis/. 

84 Bill S-7, Combating Terrorism Act, S.C. 2013, c. 9, http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx? 

Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6106212&File=30#2. 
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Foreign Enlistment Act also prohibits enlisting, leaving Canada, or intending to leave Canada to 

enlist “with a foreign state at war with a friendly state.”85 The government has reportedly 

proposed further changes to Canada’s Criminal Code to “allow for more preventative action,”86

and suggested lowering the legal threshold “to allow for preventive detention of suspected 

foreign fighters who are intent on travelling abroad to participate in terror activity.”87

On June 19, 2014, Royal Assent was given to Bill C-24,88 which made amendments to Canada’s 

Citizenship Act (among other laws) that allow the Government to revoke the citizenship of dual 

nationals “who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, and spying offences (depending on the 

sentence received), or who take up arms against Canada.”89

Croatia 

Following reports on a wounded Croatian woman in the war zone in Syria, the Croatian Foreign 

Ministry has asked the Security and Intelligence Agency and the police to investigate her 

connections in Croatia and the region. “Although recruitment of fighters is not an issue inside 

Croatia itself, the authorities already have placed some people under surveillance for possible 

connections to Islamic State,” according to a regional news report.90 Croatia is considering the 

introduction of a new law penalizing fighting for foreign armed groups.91 

Denmark 

Terror acts that constitute crimes are covered by chapter 13 of the Danish Criminal Code.92 Such 

acts include committing acts of terrorism, 93 financing terrorism, 94 and instructing others to 

commit terrorism. 95 The Code also criminalizes participation in unlawful military 

 

85 Foreign Enlistment Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. F-28, § 4, available at https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/laws/stat/rsc-1985-cf-28/latest/rsc-1985-c-f-28.html. 

86 Tonda MacCharles, Tories Hint at Even Tougher Anti-terror Laws, TORONTO STAR (Oct. 24, 2014), 

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/10/24/tories_hint_at_even_tougher_antiterror_laws.html. 

87 Id. 

88 Bill C-24, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act and to Make Consequential Amendments to Other Acts, 

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6684615&File=4. 

89 Press Release, Government of Canada, Strengthening and Modernizing the Citizenship Act (Feb. 6, 2014), 

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?crtr.sj1D=&crtr.mnthndVl=12&mthd=advSrch&crtr.dpt1D=6664& 

nid=814119&crtr.lc1D=&crtr.tp1D=1&crtr.yrStrtVl=2008&crtr.kw=&crtr.dyStrtVl=26&crtr.aud1D=&crtr.mnthStrt

Vl=2&crtr.page=8&crtr.yrndVl=2014&crtr.dyndVl=31. 

90 Croatian “Jihadist Bride” Wounded in Syria Air Strike, INDEPENDENT.MK (Oct. 2, 2014), 

http://www.independent.mk/articles/9937/Croatian+Jihadist+Bride+Wounded+in+Syria+Air+Strike. 

91 Id. 

92 STRAFFELOVEN [CRIMINAL CODE], LBK No. 871 of July 4, 2014, https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/ 

R0710.aspx?id=164192#Kap13. 

93 Id. § 114. 

94 Id. § 114b. 

95 Id. § 114d. 
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organizations.96 In addition, a person who has committed a terror act under chapter 13 may lose 

his/her Danish citizenship, provided that he/she does not become stateless as a result.97

Among twenty-five countries that have given official estimates, Denmark reportedly has one of 

the largest numbers of inhabitants fighting in Syria measured as a percentage of the total Muslim 

population,98 but the suggested treatment of and measures against returning IS fighters have 

Danes divided. The Danish government has promised a review of the current terror laws to 

determine whether they are consistent with human rights. 99 The opposition party Danske 

Folkepartiet has made clear that they would prefer to see that IS fighters, regardless of their 

citizenship status, never set foot on Danish soil.100 Following problems with several jihadists, 

reportedly twenty-three in number, being sent to Syria from a mosque in Aarhus (Denmark’s 

second largest city), the political right has asked that the mosque be closed.101 The Danish 

government has opposed such measures.102 Instead Aarhus has chosen to welcome home IS 

warriors with a soft approach tailored at finding them jobs and providing university studies, 

according to news reports.103

Egypt 

On April 5, 2014, Egypt’s Council of Ministers approved a draft antiterrorism law. Under article 

11 of the draft law, individuals joining terrorist organizations would be punished with 

imprisonment.104 If the individual received any military training by those organizations, the 

punishment would be a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years.105

 

 

96 Id. § 114g. 

97 8 § BEKENDTGØRELSE AF LOV OM DANSK INDFØDSRET [ACT ON DANISH CITIZENSHIP], LBK No. 422 of June 7, 

2004, https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=28974. 

98 See, e.g., Bharati Naik, Atika Shubert & Nick Thompson, Denmark Offers Some Foreign Fighters Rehab Without 

Jail Time – But Will It Work?, CNN.COM (Oct. 28, 2014), http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/world/europe/denmarksyria-deradicalization-program/.

99 Denmark to Reconsider Its Terror Laws, THE LOCAL (Aug. 12, 2014), http://www.thelocal.dk/20140812/ 

denmark-to-reconsider-its-terror-laws. 

100 Martin Henriksen, Op-ed., Sharia politi? Aldrig i Danmark, BERLINGSKE (Sept. 11, 2014), http://www.b.dk/ 

kommentarer/sharia-politi-aldrig-i-danmark. 

101 Michael Ørtz Christiansen, Borgerlige partier kræver Aarhus-moské lukket, BERLINGSKE (Sept. 3, 2014), 

http://www.politiko.dk/nyheder/borgerlige-partier-kraever-aarhus-moske-lukket. 

102 Id. 

103 Denmark Tries a Soft Handed Approach to Returned Islamist Fighters, WASHINGTON POST (Oct. 19, 2014), 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/denmark-tries-a-soft-handed-approach-to-returned-islamistfighters/2014/10/19/3516e8f3-515e-4adc-a2cb-c0261dd7dd4a_story.html; CNN.COM, supra note 98. 

104 Anti-Terrorism Draft Law, AL MASRY AL YOUM (Nov. 3, 2013), http://www.almasryalyoum.com/news/ 

details/335366 (in Arabic). 

105 Rana Muhammad Taha, Cabinet Amends Laws Creating Harsher Punishments for Terrorism, DAILY NEWS 

EGYPT (Apr. 5, 2014), http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/04/05/cabinet-amends-laws-creating-harsherpunishments-terrorism/. 
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Finland 

Chapter 34a of Finland’s Criminal Code106 criminalizes “terrorist acts,” which include crimes 

carried out with a terroristic intent;107 preparing crimes with a terroristic intent;108 leading a 

terrorist group that has the intent of carrying out terroristic crimes;109 and promoting a terror 

group’s activities,110 which includes sending money and weapons, housing terrorists, sharing 

information with a terror group, advising terrorist groups, or taking care of legal or financial 

issues for such groups. Legal representation during court hearings is, however, exempt.111 The 

law also criminalizes providing education for the facilitation of terror acts,112 recruiting for a 

terror crime,113 and the financing of terrorism.114 

Finland recently arrested and took three men into custody for murders related to terrorism.115 As 

of September 2014, an estimated forty individuals had left Finland to fight for IS.116

France 

The issue of citizens and residents traveling abroad to fight with Islamist groups has been a real 

problem for France. It appears that, as of August 2014, as many as nine hundred French citizens 

had gone to fight in Syria alone, according to the French Minister of the Interior, Bernard 

Cazeneuve.117 Those who return to France are systematically questioned by French intelligence 

and law enforcement authorities, following which they are almost always detained and charged 

with conspiracy with a terrorist enterprise. 118 Once charged, they are subject to further 

 

106 Ch. 34a STRAFFLAG [CRIMINAL CODE] (Dec. 19, 1889:39), as amended, http://www.finlex.fi/sv/laki/ajantasa/ 

1889/18890039001#L34a. 

107 Id. 1 §. 

108 Id. 2 §. 

109 Id. 3 §. 

110 Id. 4 §. 

111 Id. 

112 Id. 4a §. 

113 Id. 4b §. 

114 Id. 5 §. 

115 Juhana Rossi, Finland Detains Three on Foreign Terror Suspicions, WALL STREET JOURNAL (Oct. 9, 2014), 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/finland-detains-three-on-foreign-terror-suspicions-1412863140. 

116 Finländska IS-krigare sprider proganda, YLE (Sept. 16, 2014), http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2014/09/16/ 

finlandska-krigare-sprider-propaganda. 

117 Edouard de Mareschal, En Syrie, un djihadiste occidental sur trois serait français [In Syria, One Out of Three 

Jihadists May be French], LE FIGARO (Sept. 5, 2014), http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2014/09/05/01003-

20140905ARTFIG00012-en-syrie-un-djihadiste-occidental-sur-trois-serait-francais.php. 

118 Marie-Amélie Lombard, L’épineuse gestion du retour des djihadistes en France [The Thorny Management of the 

Return of Jihadist Fighters in France], LE FIGARO (Oct. 7, 2014), http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualitefrance/2014/10/06/01016-20141006ARTFIG00355-l-epineuse-gestion-du-retour-des-djihadistes-en-france.php. 
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investigation by specialized investigative magistrates in preparation for trial.119 Approximately 

fifty suspects were thus detained as of October 7, 2014, though it is unclear how likely they are 

to be found guilty at trial.120

The French Code Pénal (Criminal Code) describes conspiracy with a terrorist enterprise as 

“participating in a group formed, or an agreement made, for the purpose of preparing” an act of 

terrorism.121 This crime is punishable by up to ten years of incarceration and a fine of €225,000 

(approximately US$281,600), or by up to twenty years of incarceration and a fine of €500,000 

(approximately US$625,800) for those found to be in a leadership role. 122 The French 

government’s ability to charge citizens for joining Islamist fighting groups abroad stems from a 

2012 law, which provides, in part, that French criminal law relating to terrorism activities should 

apply to citizens and residents of France even for acts committed abroad.123

The French government is currently considering a draft law that would widen the scope of the 

crime of conspiracy with a terrorist enterprise to include terrorist plots prepared by lone 

individuals.124 It would also allow government authorities to prohibit, through an administrative 

procedure, individuals from leaving France if they might join or train with Islamist groups 

abroad.125 This proposed law is expected to be adopted by both chambers of Parliament by a 

wide margin.126

The Gambia 

A person who joins a terrorist organization abroad may be penalized in The Gambia. The 

Minister of Defense may declare a person a “suspected international terrorist” (SIP), including if 

the Minister “reasonably suspects” that the person is “a member of, or belongs to, an 

international terrorist organization.”127 If a person declared a SIP possesses dual citizenship, the 

Minister may petition the High Court to have the person’s Gambian citizenship revoked.128 

 

119 Id.

120 Id.

121 CODE PÉNAL [CRIMINAL CODE] (as amended through Nov. 2, 2014), art. 421-2-1, http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ 

affichCode.do?cidTexte=LEGITEXT000006070719&dateTexte=20141106. 

122 Id. art. 421-5. 

123 Loi No. 2012-1431 du 21 décembre 2012 relative à la sécurité et à la lutte contre le terrorisme [Law No. 2012-

1431 of December 21, 2012, Regarding Security and the Fight Against Terrorism] (Dec. 21, 2012), art. 2, 

http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do;jsessionid=77572629B0A192B20BB565604668AD14.tpdjo03v_3?cid

Texte=JORFTEXT000026809719&categorieLien=id. 

124 Projet de Loi renforçant les dispositions relatives à la lutte contre le terrorisme [Proposed Law Reinforcing the 

Provisions Regarding the Fight Against Terrorism], No. 2110 (July 9, 2014), http://www.assemblee-nationale. 

fr/14/projets/pl2110.asp. 

125 Id.

126 Soren Seelow, Gauche et droite à l’unisson contre les djihadistes [Left and Right United Against Jihadists], LE 

MONDE (Sept. 15, 2014), http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2014/09/13/gauche-et-droite-a-l-unisson-contre-lesdjihadistes_4487031_3224.html. 

127 Anti-Terrorism Act No. 6 of 2003, § 10, 3 LAWS OF THE GAMBIA, Cap. 13:01 (rev. ed. 2009). An “international 

terrorist organization” is defined as an organization “subject to the control or influence of any person or organization 
Treatment of Foreign Fighters in Selected Jurisdictions 

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In addition, a citizen or resident who engages in what is known as a “foreign incursion” commits 

a crime in The Gambia. A person commits this crime if he “enters a foreign state with intent to 

engage in a ‘hostile activity’ in that foreign State . . . or . . . engages in a hostile activity in a 

foreign State.”129 A person convicted for this crime is subject to a prison term ranging from ten 

to twenty-five years.130

Georgia 

Georgia does not have special legislation in force that would prosecute returning Islamist 

fighters. However, in 2013, the section on terrorism-related crimes of the Criminal Code was 

substantially amended to extend the list of activities subject to criminal prosecution.131 The 

Georgian Criminal Code provides for lengthy terms of imprisonment for joining or providing 

assistance to a foreign terrorist organization, and for providing assistance to a “foreign 

organization involved in hostile activities.”132

Germany 

According to German security officials, “about 400 German citizens have joined IS in Iraq and 

Syria and about 40 have died, at least five in suicide attacks. More than 130 are believed to have 

returned, 25 of whom had direct combat experience.”133 A number of returnees from Syria have 

 outside The Gambia, and the Minister reasonably suspects that it is concerned in the commission, preparation or 

instigation of acts of international terrorism.” Id. An “act of international terrorism” is defined as “an act of 

terrorism involving a person or organization that . . . is ordinarily resident in The Gambia, or . . . is ordinarily 

resident in The Gambia but has connection with a person or an organization resident outside The Gambia.” Id. 

128 Id. 

129 Id. § 34. The term “engag[ing] in a hostile activity” means: 

doing an act for the purpose of achieving any one of the following objectives, whether or not that 

objective is achieved−

(a) the overthrow by force or violence of the government of [a] foreign State or part of the 

foreign State; 

(b) engaging in armed hostilities in the foreign State; 

(c) causing by force or violence members of the public in the foreign State to be in fear of 

suffering death or personal injury; 

(d) causing the death of, or bodily injury to, a person who−

i. is the hear of state of the foreign State, or 

ii. holds, or performs any of the duties of, a public office of the foreign State or of the 

foreign State; or 

(e) unlawfully destroying or damaging any real or personal property belonging to the government 

of the foreign State or of a part of the foreign State. Id. 

130 Id. 

131 Ch. 2, “Europe Overview,” in US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF COUNTERTERRORISM, COUNTRY REPORTS 

ON TERRORISM 2013, http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2013/224822.htm. 

132 CRIMINAL CODE OF GEORGIA arts. 319, 328, Law No. 2287-rs of July 22, 1999, available at http://legislationline. 

org/documents/section/criminal-codes/country/29 (unofficial translation). 

133 Germany Plans Tougher Controls on Would-Be Jihadists, Returning Islamic State Fighters, REUTERS (Sept. 27, 

2014), http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/09/26/uk-mideast-crisis-germany-jihadists-idUKKCN0HL1ZV20140926. 
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recently been arrested, at least thirty are facing trial, and the German intelligence services are 

monitoring others. 134 The German domestic intelligence service, together with the police, 

reportedly keeps suspected jihadists “under close watch” and “[u]pon suspicion of possible travel 

plans to participate in the Syrian civil war, security services approach suspects directly to issue 

warnings and inform them that authorities are aware of their plans.”135 Government officials are 

said to work closely with the border officials of Turkey to exchange information on alleged 

travelers, and “[f]ederal police and other relevant authorities are notified when a fighter returns 

and the individual is placed under increased surveillance.”136 

On October 20, 2014, Justice Minister Heiko Maas was reported to have presented a package of 

measures to combat IS terror. According to the Minister, the UN resolution against the group is 

being implemented quickly in Germany, and the country’s criminal law will be changed in two 

respects to that end. First, whoever wants to leave Germany to take part in serious acts of 

violence abroad or to be trained to participate in serious acts of violence will be held criminally 

responsible. Second, a separate offense of terrorist financing will be created, in order to dry up 

the sources of funding of terrorist organizations such as IS.137 The Minister indicated that the 

country already has a strict and differentiated antiterrorism law under which anyone who 

supports IS terrorism in Syria and Iraq can already be punished, that IS has been banned in 

Germany, and that propaganda campaigns in support of the organization are already punishable 

and related investigations have been initiated.138

As of late-September 2014, Germany was considering implementation of stricter controls on 

would-be jihadists by placement of a special mark on personal identity cards, to alert border 

guards in Germany or other Schengen countries about suspicious travelers and to prevent such 

individuals from leaving the country or the Schengen area. The government was also 

considering adopting a measure prescribing the withdrawal of German citizenship from 

suspected Islamist militants who hold dual nationality.139 It is unclear whether these options are 

still being pursued. 

Ghana 

A Ghanaian citizen or resident who joins a terrorist organization abroad may be indicted for the 

crime of supporting a terrorist act. The law provides that any citizen or resident who knowingly 

gives support to a terrorist organization, including “entering and remaining in a country for the 

 

134 Id. 

135 Edwin Bakker et al., supra note 57, at 16. 

136 Id. However, the authors note, a then-recent ruling by the German Federal Constitutional Court deeming certain 

elements of the country’s Anti-Terrorism Database (Antiterrordatei ATD) unconstitutional “may hinder some of 

these efforts.” Some thirty-eight different German government agencies can access the database to store and share 

information on suspected terrorists and potential violent extremists. Id. 

137 Mit Entschlossenheit und Augenmaß gegen den IS-Terror, BUNDESMINISTERIUM DER JUSTIZ UND FÜR 

VERBRAUCHERSCHUTZ [FEDERAL MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION] (Oct. 20, 2014), 

http://www.bmjv.de/SharedDocs/Kurzmeldungen/DE/2014/20141020-IS-Strafrecht.html?nn=3433226. 

138 Id. 

139 REUTERS, supra note 133. 
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benefit of or at the direction of or in association with any person or terrorist group,” commits an 

offense.140 A terrorist group is “an entity that has as one of its activities and purposes, the 

commission of, or the facilitation of a terrorist act . . . or a specified entity.”141 An entity may be 

declared a “specified entity” if the Minister of Justice and Attorney General successfully petition 

the High Court for such declaration on the basis of corroborated information provided by a 

person with knowledge that the entity participated in an act of terrorism in any capacity.142 The 

Minister may also make a similar petition on his own motion if he has reasonable grounds to 

believe that “an entity is consciously acting . . . on behalf of . . . at the direction of, or . . . in 

association with another specified entity.”143

A person brought on charges of supporting a terrorist act may, on conviction, be liable to a 

penalty ranging from seven to twenty-five years in prison.144 A naturalized citizen convicted for 

this crime may lose his Ghanaian citizenship.145 In addition, declaration of a resident as a 

member of specified entity by the High Court, or his designation by the UN or any country as a 

member of a terrorist organization or as a person engaged in terrorist activities, may result in 

denial of entry into Ghana.146 

Iceland 

Iceland has adopted the European Convention of January 17, 1977, on the Suppression of 

Terrorism.147 The Convention is incorporated in the country’s Penal Code, which punishes the 

conduct specified in the Convention, and provides “[l]egal action under this clause shall . . . only 

be taken if ordered by the Minister of Justice.”148 Under Icelandic law, financing and supporting 

terrorist groups are prohibited. 149 Acquisition and loss of citizenship is regulated by law; 

 

140 Anti-Terrorism Act No. 762 of 2008, §§ 5 & 11, available at http://jtighana.org/new/actdetails.php?id=134; AntiTerrorism (Amendment) Act No. 842 of 2012, http://www.fic.gov.gh/sites/all/themes/biz/documents/Anti%20 

Terrorism%20Amendment,%202012%20-%20Act%20842.pdf. 

141 Id. §§ 23 & 40. 

142 Id. § 19. 

143 Id. 

144 Id. § 11. 

145 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA 1992, § 9, 1 LAWS OF GHANA (rev. ed. 2004), http://www.judicial. 

gov.gh/constitution/chapter/chap_3.htm; Citizenship Act No. 591 of 2000, § 18, 2 LAWS OF GHANA (rev. ed. 2004), 

available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/3eda135a2.html. 

146 Anti-Terrorism Regulations, 2012 (LI 2181), § 3 (July 18, 2012). 

147 GENERAL PENAL CODE No. 19/1940 ( Feb. 12, 1940, as amended to Mar. 1, 2004), art. 6, http://eng.innanri 

kisraduneyti.is/laws-and-regulations/english/penal-code-and-punishment/nr/1145 (government translation). 

148 Id. 

149 Id. arts. 100b–100c. 
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fighting for a terrorist organization does not result in a loss of citizenship.150 Reportedly, no 

Icelandic citizens have joined IS.151

India 

India does not appear to have passed any recent laws or regulations, in the context of the current 

conflict in Iraq or Syria, to prevent or restrict the ability of domestic nationals to travel overseas 

to join foreign terrorist, jihadi, or other militant organizations. Currently, the Unlawful 

Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, 152 is the predominant legislative framework to deal with 

terrorist activities. The Act punishes terrorist activities in India or any foreign country and also 

criminalizes funding, membership, and support of designated terrorist organizations. The list of 

designated terrorist organizations can be found in the Schedule of the Act and on the Ministry of 

Home Affairs website.153 A separate list can be found under the Schedule of the UN Prevention 

and Suppression of Terrorism (Implementation of Security Council Resolutions) Order, 2007.154 

Any person charged under the Act can have his/her passport impounded.155 

Under India’s Penal Code there are certain stipulated offenses against the state, which include 

“Waging war against any Asiatic Power” in alliance or at peace with the government of India 

and “Committing depredation on territories of Power at peace with the Government of India.”156

Under section 10 of India’s Citizenship Act, the government of India can, by order, terminate the 

citizenship of a person where citizenship was obtained by registration or naturalization in the 

following situations: (1) disloyalty to the Constitution; (2) communication or assistance with an 

enemy of which India is at war; or (3) where the citizen has, “within five years after registration 

or naturalisation, been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a term of not less than two 

years.” The Passports Act, 1967 also allows the government to refuse to issue or revoke a 

passport or travel documents on the basis that the passport authority “deems it necessary so to do 

in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of India, friendly relations of 

India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public.”157

 

 

150 Icelandic Nationality Act, No. 100/1952 (Dec. 23, 1952), http://eng.innanrikisraduneyti.is/laws-andregulations/english/citizenship/nr/6297. 

151 Ekki kunnugt um Íslendinga í röðum IS, VISIR (Sept. 29, 2014), http://www.visir.is/ekki-kunnugt-um-islendingai-rodum-is/article/2014140928917. 

152 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, No. 37 of 1967, http://nia.gov.in/acts/the%20unlawful%20activities%20 

%28prevention%29%20act,%201967%20%2837%20of%201967%29.pdf. 

153 Banned Organisations, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (as of Jan. 27, 2014), 

http://www.mha.nic.in/BO. 

154 U.N. Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism (Implementation of Security Council Resolutions) Order, 2007. 

155 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act § 51. 

156 INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860, §§ 125, 126, http://punjabrevenue.nic.in/crime5.htm. 

157 Passports Act, No 15 of 1967, §10, http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/passports_act.pdf. 
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Indonesia 

On August 4, 2014, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, 

Djoko Suyanto, announced that the government has banned IS, forbidding the propagation of its 

teachings in the country. At that time, the government stated that Indonesians who travel to 

troubled areas of the Middle East and South Asia will be monitored by the Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, with the police and counterrorism officials sharing information.158 

One reason Indonesian officials have spoken out against IS and announced the ban is that IS has 

created and posted online a recruitment video in the Indonesian language calling for Muslims in 

the country to join their fight. Hundreds of Indonesians have declared that they support IS.159 

As of November 19, 2014, Indonesia estimated that three hundred Indonesians had gone to fight 

with IS. According to Rohan Gunaratna, an expert in the subject from Singapore, although 

Indonesia does have antiterror laws, it does not have legislation explicitly criminalizing travel 

overseas to join terrorist groups.160 The antiterror legislation applies when related crimes are 

committed at home or abroad.161 

Those who go and fight for terrorist organizations do face consequences under Indonesia’s Law 

on Citizenship. Indonesian citizenship can be lost in several circumstances, including when a 

person “has entered into foreign military service without prior approval from the President,”162

and when a person “has voluntarily entered into the services of foreign entities in a position 

where, by law, such a position in Indonesia is only reserved for citizens of the Republic of 

Indonesia.”163 These two provisions cover service to a foreign body in a military and some 

nonmilitary roles. The Law makes an exception for those studying in foreign countries when 

those countries make military service an educational requirement.164 In addition, citizenship can 

be lost for voluntarily declaring allegiance to a foreign country or a part of a foreign country and 

 

158 Ezra Sihite, Indonesian Government Officially Bans ISIS, JAKARTA GLOBE (Aug. 4, 2014), http://thejakartaglobe. 

beritasatu.com/news/indonesian-government-officially-bans-isis/. 

159 Indra Wijaya, Military Chief Bans ISIS in Indonesia, TEMPO.CO (Aug. 4, 2014), http://en.tempo.co/read/news/ 

2014/08/04/055597103/Military-Chief-Bans-ISIS-in-Indonesia. 

160 Indonesia Fears Terror Return as Fighters Head to Syria, Iraq, DAWN.COM (June 20, 2014), http://www.dawn. 

com/news/1114035/indonesia-fears-terror-return-as-fighters-head-to-syria-iraq; Dyah Ayu Pitalok, 300 Indonesians 

Now with ISIS, Counterterrorism Official Says, JAKARTA GLOBE (Nov. 19, 2014), http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu. 

com/news/300-indonesians-now-isis-counterterrorism-official-says/. 

161 Law on Terrorism, No. 1, 2002, http://search.mahkamahkonstitusi.go.id/mk-gsa/listResult?q=nomor%201%20 

2002&client=default_frontend&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=default_frontend&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3

Ad1&entqr=0&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&ud=1&site=default_collection¶m=all&access=p (in Indonesian; click 

on link to select text). The text of the Law on Terrorism was originally a government regulation, then later adopted 

by the legislature as Law No. 15, 2003. 

162 Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 12 on Citizenship of the Republic of Indonesia (Aug. 1, 2006) art. 23(d), 

available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/4538aae64.html. 

163 Id. art. 23(e). 

164 Id. art. 24. 
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for living outside of Indonesia for five years without declaring an intention to remain a citizen, 

when that stay abroad is “for non official purposes, without legal reason.”165

Ireland 

While there are few Irish nationals fighting in militant groups overseas, correlating the figures to 

the number of Ireland’s Muslim population reveals that it has one of the highest percentages of 

foreign fighters based on the size of that population, according to the Irish Times,

166 although the 

Irish government has stated that these reports are “not entirely accurate.”167 Ireland’s Passports 

Act 2008 provides that the government may refuse to issue passports or cancel them in certain 

circumstances. For foreign fighters, the most relevant circumstance is where a person would be 

likely to engage in conduct that could prejudice the national security of Ireland or another 

state.168 The Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 provides that terrorist offenses have 

extraterritorial effect if they are committed by a person who is a resident or citizen of Ireland, or 

for the benefit of a legal person established in the state, or are acts directed against the state or 

Irish citizens.169 

A proposed Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2014, which is progressing 

through the Irish Parliament, would create three new offenses in relation to terrorist acts: public 

provocation to commit a terrorist offense, recruiting for terrorism, and training for terrorism.170 

The government is also considering whether any new legislation is necessary to implement UN 

Resolution No. 2178 into its national law.171

Israel 

Israel’s Minister of Defense has declared IS to be an unlawful association.172 The declaration 

enables the implementation of several legal provisions, including prevention of both money 

laundering and the transfer of funds to local associations that identify with IS.173 

 

165 Id. art. 23(f), (i). 

166 Conor Lally & Fiach Kelly, Jihadist Suspects Passing Through Ireland Monitored, IRISH TIMES (Sept. 5, 2014), 

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/jihadist-suspects-passing-through-ireland-monitored-1.1918234. 

167 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2014 – Second Stage Speech by the Minister for Justice 

and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, MERRION STREET (Oct. 8, 2014), http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index. 

php/2014/10/criminal-justice-terrorist-offences-amendment-act-2014-second-stage-speech-by-the-minister-forjustice-and-equality-frances-fitzgerald-td/?cat=66. 

168 Passports Act 2008, No. 4 of 2008, http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2008/en/act/pub/0004/index.html. 

169 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, No. 2 of 2005, § 6, http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/ 

en/act/pub/0002/print.html#part1. 

170 Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Act 2014 – Second Stage Speech by the Minister for Justice 

and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, TD, supra note 167. 

171 Questions to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, CLARE DALY (Oct. 8, 2014), http://claredaly.ie/questions-to-theminister-for-foreign-affairs/; see also United Nations discussion, Part I, supra. 

172 Gili Cohen, Yaalon Declared the “Islamic State” Organization to Be an Unlawful Association, HAARETZ.COM

(Sept. 3, 2014), http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/1.2424208 (in Hebrew). 

173 Id. 
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Under the Prevention of Infiltration (Offences and Jurisdiction) Law, 5714-1954, as amended, 

[a]nyone who knowingly and unlawfully leaves Israel to [go to] Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, 

Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, or any other part of the Land of Israel [referring to 

the Biblical territory] that is outside of [the territory of] Israel, is subject to imprisonment 

of four years or a fine . . . .174

In addition, the citizenship of any Israeli who has been found to have committed an act of 

disloyalty to the State of Israel may be voided based on a decision of an administrative court 

pursuant to a request by the Minister of Interior. Such a decision may be made due to a 

determination that the person perpetrated, assisted, or solicited an act of terrorism. Israeli 

citizenship under these circumstances may be voided as long as the person will not become 

stateless. The Law presumes that a person who lives permanently outside of Israel will not 

become stateless. If it is proven that the person would be stateless if found to have met the 

criteria for removal of citizenship, the person will be permitted to reside in Israel subject to 

conditions as determined by the court.175 

Italy 

No cases of returning Islamist fighters currently being prosecuted in Italy were found. However, 

it appears that two provisions of Italy’s Criminal Code could be used to prosecute such fighters: 

articles 270-bis and 270-quiquies. 

Article 270-bis of the Criminal Code provides as follows: 

Anyone who promotes, establishes, organizes, directs or finances associations whose 

purpose is to carry out acts of violence with the purpose of terrorism or subversion of the 

democratic order is punished by imprisonment from seven to fifteen years. Anyone 

participating in such associations shall be punished with imprisonment from five to ten 

years. For the purposes of criminal prosecution, the purpose of terrorism occurs including 

when acts of violence are directed against a foreign state, or an international organization 

or institution.176

Article 270-quinquies, in turn, punishes training for the purposes of terrorism, including 

international terrorism. Article 270-quinquies provides that undergoing or providing training in 

the use of explosives, firearms, or other weapons and in terrorist techniques, even if that training 

is for action against a foreign state, institution, or international body, may be punished with 

imprisonment for five to fifteen years.177 This provision focuses on domestic terrorism but also 

encompasses the situation of persons who have gone abroad to fight with terrorist organizations. 

 

174 Prevention of Infiltration (Offences and Jurisdiction) Law, 5714-1954, § 2A, 8 LAWS OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

[LSI] 133 (5714-1953/54). 

175 Nationality Law, 5712-1952, §§ 11 & 11A, 6 LSI 50 (5712-1951/52). 

176 CODICE PENALE [C.P.] [CRIMINAL CODE] art. 270-bis, available at http://www.altalex.com/index. 

php?idnot=36762 (translation by author). Article 270-bis was added to the Code through an amendment in 

December 2001. 

177 C.P. art. 270-bis, para. 1. 
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Italian legal commentators highlight the broad discretion that criminal courts enjoy when 

interpreting articles 270-bis and 270-quinquies of the Criminal Code to prosecute and 

punish terrorists. 178 There is an ongoing discussion in Italy concerning whether legislative 

measures should be adopted to tackle the phenomenon of returning Islamist fighters.179

Japan 

In October 2014, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department reportedly questioned and searched 

the residence of a twenty-six year-old Japanese man who tried to go to Syria to join IS.180 The 

police based their action on a rarely used article of the Penal Code: preparing or plotting to wage 

war privately against a foreign nation. The article carries a prison term of three months to 

five years.181 

Jordan 

Article 3(c) of Law 55 of 2006, amended by Law 18 of 2014, prohibits Jordanian citizens from 

joining military groups and terrorist organizations inside the country or abroad. It also bans 

individuals from receiving any military training by those organizations. Article 7 of the law 

punishes individuals for committing the aforementioned offenses with a term of imprisonment.182 

Kazakhstan 

On April 23, 2014, Law No. 200-V amended Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code and added a new 

article entitled “Participation in foreign military conflicts,” which states that the intentional and 

illegal participation of a Kazakhstani citizen in a military conflict or combat activities abroad 

must be punished by imprisonment for a term of three to seven years.183 In the Spring of 2014, a 

Kazakh court reportedly sentenced two returning fighters to seven years in prison.184

 

 

178 LORENZO VIDINO, EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRACY, IL JIHADISMO AUTOCTONO IN ITALIA: NASCITA,

SVILUPPO E DINAMICHE DI RADICALIZZAZIONE 105 (2014), http://www.ispionline.it/it/EBook/Il_jihadismo_ 

autoctono_in_Italia.pdf. 

179 See generally Giuliano Foschini Fabio Tonacci, Archivio, LA REPUBBLICA.IT (Sept. 9, 2014), http://ricerca. 

repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2014/09/09/jihadistidi-ritorno26.html; Edwin Bakker et al., supra

note 57. 

180 Police Question Student Over Plans to Join Islamic State, ASAHI NEWSPAPER (Oct. 7, 2014), http://ajw.asahi. 

com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201410070040. 

181 PENAL CODE, Act No. 45 of 1907, amended by Act No. 156 of 2004, art. 93, English translation available at

http://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/law/detail/?printID=&re=02&yo=%E5%88%91%E6%B3%95&ft=2&ky=

&page=1&vm=02. 

182 Law 18 of 2014, 5289 AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH (June 1, 2014) (in Arabic). 

183 CRIMINAL CODE OF KAZAKHSTAN (Law No. 168-1 of July 16, 1997), art. 162-1, available at http://online.zakon. 

kz/Document/?doc_id=1008032#pos=2005;1 (in Russian). 

184 Edward Lemon, Assessing the Threat of Returning Foreign Fighters from Central Asia, GEOPOLITICAL MONITOR

(Sept. 18, 2014), http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/assessing-threat-returning-foreign-fighters-central-asia/. 
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Kenya 

Kenya criminalizes the participation of its citizens in any terrorist activities abroad.185 A citizen 

who, among other things, promotes or facilitates the commission of a terrorist act or receives 

military training for the “purpose of carrying out or facilitating the commission of a terrorist act 

in a foreign State, commits an offence,” which, on conviction, is punishable by a maximum of 

thirty years in prison.186 A citizen who conspires to commit a terrorist act abroad also commits 

an offense and is, on conviction, subject to a maximum of twenty years of imprisonment.187 

In addition to the above-noted penalties, a naturalized Kenyan citizen who joins a terrorist group 

abroad may also lose his Kenyan citizenship. Kenyan law authorizes the Cabinet Secretary in 

charge of matters relating to citizenship and immigration to revoke the citizenship of a 

naturalized citizen convicted of any offense punishable by at least seven years in prison.188

Kosovo 

In March 2014, the Parliament of Kosovo approved on the first reading a bill that, if adopted, 

would prohibit citizens from participating in foreign wars as part of foreign armies, police, or 

paramilitary formations, according to news sources. Persons found guilty of these crimes would 

be imprisoned for up to fifteen years and lose their citizenship.189 

In August 2014, about forty alleged Islamic radicals suspected of fighting in Iraq and Syria were 

reportedly arrested in Kosovo.190 

Kuwait 

News sources indicate that a draft law in Kuwait would add a provision to the Penal Code to 

sanction Kuwaiti citizens for joining military organizations or participating in military operations 

abroad with a term of imprisonment that could reach twenty-five years. The penalty would 

increase if the individual recruited others to join such terrorist organizations.191 

 

185 Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 30 of 2014, § 21, http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/kenyalex/act 

view.xql?actid=No.%2030%20of%202012. 

186 Id. §§ 2 & 21. 

187 Id. § 23. 

188 CONSTITUTION OF KENYA § 17 (2010), http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/kenyalex/actview.xql? 

actid=Const2010#KE/CON/Const2010/chap_8; Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011, § 21, 

http://www.kenyalaw.org:8181/exist/kenyalex/actview.xql?actid=CAP.%20172. 

189 Miki Trajkovski, Macedonia and Kosovo Support New Law Sanctioning Foreign Fighters, SETIMES.COM (Aug. 

29, 2014), http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/blogreview/2014/08/29/feature06. 

190 Kosovo Police Arrest 40 Suspected ISIS Fighters, CBN NEWS (Aug. 11, 2014), http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/ 

world/2014/August/Kosovo-Police-Arrest-40-Suspected-ISIS-Fighters/. 

191 Draft Law Enhancing Sanctions Against Kuwaiti Fighters Abroad, ALBAYAN (Feb. 10, 2014), http://www.alba 

yan.ae/one-world/arabs/2014-02-10-1.2058817 (in Arabic). 
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A second draft law reportedly seeks to amend the Nationality Law by adding a provision 

covering the suspension of Kuwaiti nationality for those Kuwaitis who join terrorist military 

organizations abroad or are considered to be wanted terrorists domestically or internationally.192 

Kyrgyzstan 

The recruitment, training, or participation of a recruited mercenary in a military conflict or 

combat activities abroad is considered a mercenary activity in Kyrgyzstan and is prosecuted by 

imprisonment for a term of up to eight years. In August 2013, an increased punishment was 

introduced for attacks on persons and organizations under international protection.193

Laos 

The Penal Law of Laos has several articles that may be applicable to returning terrorist 

fighters.194 Article 64 states that any person who commits an offense under articles 51 through 

63 of the Penal Law against a friendly country is punishable as if the offense were committed 

against the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. No definition of “friendly country” was found. 

The relevant provisions are articles 51 (Treason to the Nation); 52 (Rebellion); 54 (Territorial 

Violation Affecting National Security); 56 (Destruction); 57 (Disruption of State or Social 

Undertakings); 60 (Division of Solidarity); 61 (Civil Commotion); 62 (Destruction or Attack of 

Detention and Reformatory Centres); and 63 (Joining the Enemy, Sheltering Persons Acting 

Against the Revolution). 

Latvia 

In September 2014, Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly issued a statement saying 

that Latvia will take all necessary measures in order to prevent recruitment of foreign militants in 

Latvia, involvement of its citizens in military conflicts abroad, and other support measures 

to terrorists.195 

Libya 

Article 3(A) of a draft antiterrorism law prepared by the Libyan Interim Government defines a 

terrorist organization as a group of three or more persons established to commit terrorist crimes 

 

192 Stripping the Kuwaiti Citizenship from Individuals Joining Military Organizations, ALQABAS (Oct. 15, 2014), 

http://www.alqabas.com.kw/node/903327 (in Arabic). 

193 CRIMINAL CODE OF KYRGYZSTAN arts. 375, 376, Law No. 69 of Oct. 1, 1997, available at http://online.adviser. 

kg/Document/?doc_id=30222833 (in Russian). 

194 Penal Law (Nov. 23, 1989), English translation available at http://www.mfa.gov.sg/content/dam/mfa/images/ 

om/vientiane/Lao%20Law/Penal%20Law.pdf. 

195 Baltic States Join Fight Against Islamic State in Iraq, Syria, THE BALTIC TIMES (Sept. 22, 2014), http://www. 

baltictimes.com/news/articles/35571/#.VFWr8fCEfE4. 
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within or outside Libya. If enacted, article 9 of the law would criminalize the acts of joining 

such an organization within or outside Libya.196 

Macedonia 

In September 2014, new amendments to the Macedonian Criminal Code entered into force. 

Newly added article 322-a established that militants who fought in combat operations abroad 

within a framework of a foreign military, police, paramilitary, or parapolice groups are subject to 

no less than five years of imprisonment. The same punishment applies to those found guilty of 

indirect support of such actions. Solicitation on behalf of and recruitment for a foreign 

paramilitary group is punishable by a minimum four-year term of imprisonment.197 

Malaysia 

According to news reports, on October 15, 2014, Malaysia’s Home Minister, Datuk Seri Dr 

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, stated in a written response to a question from another member of 

Parliament that existing laws would be used to prosecute Malaysians who join IS if they return 

to Malaysia: 

[I]f there is substantial evidence in respect of their participation in the activities of that 

militant movement, the government will take action based on existing laws, such as the 

Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. If there is sufficient evidence to show 

them being involved in militant activities, the government will take action based on 

existing laws like the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, Anti-Money 

Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, Societies Act 1966, and the 

Penal Code.198

The Minister also reported that the government is aware of thirty-nine Malaysians currently 

involved with IS. Previously, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a statement to the UN Security 

Council on September 24, 2014, said that the Malaysian government has “designated IS as a 

terrorist organisation and will spare no effort to act against its members. We have also taken 

 

196 Libyan Draft Anti-Terrorism Bill (May 23, 2014), available on the website of the Libyan Ministry of Justice, at 

http://www.aladel.gov.ly/main/uploads/sections/500_%E3%D4%D1%E6%DA_%DE%C7%E4%E6%E4_%C7%E1

%C7%D1%E5%C7%C8.pdf (in Arabic). 

197 Law of Sept. 3, 2014, on Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia, SLUZBEN VESNIK NA 

REPUBLIKA MAKEDONIJA (official gazette) No. 164/14; see also, Sinisa Jakov Marusic, US Praises Macedonian 

Law to Jail Militants, BALKANINSIGHT (Oct. 20, 2014), http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/us-praisesmacedonian-bill-to-jail-militants. 

198 Existing Laws Can Be Used Against Malaysian IS Members, THE RAKYAT POST (Oct. 15, 2014), 

http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/10/15/existing-laws-can-used-malaysian-members/. See also 39 M’sians 

Identified with Links to Militant Groups – Zahid, THE MALAYSIAN TIMES (Oct. 15, 2014), http://www.themalaysian 

times.com.my/39-msians-identified-with-links-to-militant-groups-zahid/; Loshana K. Shagar, No Malaysian 

‘Comfort Women’ with Islamic State, Says Zahid, THE STAR ONLINE (Oct. 15, 2014), http://www.thestar.com.my/ 

News/Nation/2014/10/15/Parliament-Comfort-women-IS/. 
Treatment of Foreign Fighters in Selected Jurisdictions 

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steps to review certain aspects of the legal and policy frameworks with a view to further 

strengthen national-level counter-terrorism capabilities.”199 

Mauritius 

A citizen or resident who joins a terrorist organization abroad violates the law of Mauritius. A 

person who is listed as a “suspected international terrorist” (SIT),200 is a member of a “proscribed 

organization,”201 or is a member of an “international terrorist group”202 is punishable.203 A 

person may be listed as an SIT if the minister in charge of national security “reasonably 

suspects” that he has participated in the commission of an international terrorist act (an act of 

terrorism by a noncitizen or a person possessing dual citizenship), is a member of an 

international terrorist organization, or has links to an international terrorist organization.204 The 

person may also be listed as such if he is identified as a person involved in terrorist acts in any 

UN Security Council resolution, any instrument of the Council of the European Union, or by any 

country or organization that the Minister may approve.205 

Membership in a proscribed group or international terrorist group is a crime punishable by a 

prison term of three to twenty years.206 A member of a proscribed group or an international 

terrorist group may also be subject to a forfeiture order concerning all items used for or accrued 

from terrorism-related activities. 207 In addition, the law authorizes the Minister to make 

regulations denying a SIT or a member of an international terrorist group entry into or transit 

through Mauritius.208 Similarly, a naturalized citizen who has been declared a SIT may be 

deprived of his Mauritian citizenship unless doing so would render the person stateless. 209 

Further, any SIT who holds dual citizenship may be deprived of Mauritian citizenship 

 

199 Statement by the Honourable Mr. Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, at the United Nations 

Security Council Meeting on Threats to International Peace and Security Cause by Terrorist Acts: Foreign Terrorist 

Fighters (New York, Sept. 24, 2014), http://www.kln.gov.my/web/guest/speeches/-/asset_publisher/t3pS/content/ 

statement-by-the-hon-dato-sri-anifah-aman-minister-of-foreign-affairs-of-malaysia-at-the-united-nations-securitycouncil-meeting-on-threats-to-international-peace-and-security-caused-by-terrorist-acts:-foreign-terrorist-fighters24-sept-2014-new-york?redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fspeeches. 

200 Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 2 of 2002, § 10(1)–(3), 6 REVISED LAWS OF MAURITIUS (updated through 

2012), original version available at http://www.opbw.org/nat_imp/leg_reg/mauritius/Terror.pdf. 

201 Id. § 4. 

202 An international terrorist organization is a group declared as such by the Minister for various reasons including a 

‘reasonable suspicion’ that it is involved in acts of international terrorism, or by the United Nations Security 

Council, the Council of the European Union or any country or organization that the Minister approves. Id. § 10(4). 

203 Id. §§ 3, 4, 10 & 30. 

204 Id. § 10(1)(a). 

205 Id. § 10(1)(b), (c). 

206 Id. §§ 4, 10 & 32(1)(b). 

207 Id. § 32. 

208 Id. § 10. 

209 Mauritius Citizenship Act No. 45 of 1968, § 11, 5 REVISED LAWS OF MAURITIUS (updated through 2012). 
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“irrespective of the manner in which he acquired both citizenship of Mauritius and that of 

another State,” unless doing so would render him stateless.210

Montenegro 

An amendment to the Criminal Code was reportedly introduced in the Montenegrin legislature in 

October 2014 that, if adopted, would establish that “anyone who provides training, attends 

training, finances, and recruits citizens of Montenegro for trips to foreign battlefields as part of 

paramilitary and terrorist organizations is to be punished with imprisonment of up to five years, 

and those who are recruiting fighters will be sentenced from five to ten years in prison.”211 

On September 29, 2014, the Parliamentary Security and Defence Committee ordered the 

domestic security service to permanently monitor up to three hundred local Islamists.212 

Morocco 

Fighting with terrorist groups in other countries would likely constitute one or more of the 

crimes designated as terrorist crimes under section 1 of article 218–1 of the Moroccan Penal 

Code.213 According to a September 2014 media report, Morocco is also in the process of passing 

a law that would specifically criminalize the acts of Moroccan citizens fighting with extremist 

groups in places like Iraq and Syria.214 

Namibia 

Namibian law expressly prohibits the participation of citizens or residents in any military activity 

abroad. The law states that anyone “within Namibia or elsewhere who offers to render any 

foreign military assistance . . . or any mercenary activities or related services to a foreign state, 

organ of a state, group of persons or other organization or person,” except when sanctioned or 

authorized by the government, commits an offense.215 Similarly, anyone who joins the ranks of 

 

210 Id. 

211 Montenegro to Jail Fighters Joining Foreign Wars, TURKISH WEEKLY (Oct. 5, 2014), http://www.turkishweekly. 

net/news/173098/montenegro-to-jail-fighters-joining-foreign-wars.html. 

212 27th Meeting of the Parliament’s Security and Defence Committee, Sept. 29, 2014, THE PARLIAMENT OF 

MONTENEGRO, http://www.skupstina.me/index.php/en/odbor-za-bezbjednost-i-odbranu/sjednice (in Serbian). 

213 PENAL CODE OF MOROCCO (2014 consolidated ed.), 

http://adala.justice.gov.ma/production/legislation/ar/Nouveautes/الجنائي20%القانون.pdf (in Arabic) and 

http://adala.justice.gov.ma/production/legislation/fr/Nouveautes/codepenal.pdf (in French). 

214 Morocco Expands Laws Against Militant Seekers, AL ARABIYA (Sept. 19, 2014), http://english.alarabiya.net/ 

en/News/middle-east/2014/09/19/Morocco-expands-laws-against-militant-seekers.html. 

215 Prevention and Combatting of Terrorism Activities Act No. 12 of 2012, §§ 20 & 47, GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF 

THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, No. 5095 (Dec. 14, 2012), available at http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2012/5095.pdf. 
Treatment of Foreign Fighters in Selected Jurisdictions 

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“any organization involved in any terrorist activity” commits an offense. 216 In addition, 

Namibian law bans the act of engaging in mercenary work, including outside of the country.217 

The offense of offering to render military assistance is, on conviction, punishable by a fine of up 

to NAD 1 million (about US$89,192) and/or a maximum of thirty years in prison. 218 

Membership in a terrorist organization is subject to a maximum of twenty years in prison.219 

Engaging in mercenary work is punishable by a fine of up to NAD 8,000 (about US$714) and/or 

up to two years of imprisonment.220 A naturalized citizen convicted of any of these offenses may 

also be deprived of his/her Namibian citizenship unless such deprivation would render 

him/her stateless.221

Nepal 

Certain crimes against the state, including subversion, treason and revolt against friendly states 

are described under Nepal’s Crime Against State and Punishment Act. 222 Revocation of 

citizenship and passports in certain circumstances are addressed in the Nepal Citizenship Act223

and the Passport Act.224 A person can be deprived of citizenship if he/she 

 raises or attempts to raise arms against Nepal or commits any other crime against the state; 

 does not render or seek to render any service to state in the manner specified by law during a 

war in which Nepal is also a participant, or during an emergency in Nepal; or

 provides any kind of help to an enemy state against Nepal.225

The government can, “at any time,” withdraw or cancel a passport “with or without showing any 

reasons therefor.”226

 

216 Id. § 12. 

217 Defence Act No. 1 of 2002, § 58, GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, No. 2749 (June 7, 

2012), available at http://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Namibia/NA_Defence_Act_2002.pdf. 

218 Prevention and Combatting of Terrorism Activities Act § 20. 

219 Id. § 12. 

220 Defence Act § 58. 

221 Act to Further Regulate the Acquisition or Loss of Namibian Citizenship (Namibian Citizenship Act) No. 14 of 

1990, § 9, GOVERNMENT GAZETTE OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, No. 65 (Aug. 30, 1990), available at 

http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b4f84.html. 

222 Crime Against State and Punishment Act, 2046 (1989), http://www.lawcommission.gov.np/site/sites/default/files/ 

Documents/crime-against-state-and-punishment-act-2046-1989-e.pdf. 

223 Nepal Citizenship Act, 1964, available at http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b51914.html (unofficial 

translation). 

224 Passports Act, 2024 (1967), http://www.lawcommission.gov.np/site/sites/default/files/Documents/passportsact.pdf. 

225 Nepal Citizenship Act art. 10(2). 

226 Passports Act § 4(2). 
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Netherlands 

The Dutch Ministers of Social Affairs and Employment and of Security and Justice have 

formulated an Action Plan: Integrated Approach to Jihadism (Actieprogramma: Integrale 

aanpak Jihadisme), the aim of which is “to protect democracy and the rule of law, counter and 

weaken the jihadist movement in the Netherlands and eliminate the causes of radicalisation.”227 

The Ministers presented the program to the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) for 

consideration on August 29, 2014; 228 a debate on the document was held on September 

4, 2014.229 

The action plan’s thirty-eight proposed measures and actions are broadly divided into five 

groups. Among them are several measures to address would-be and returned foreign 

fighters, including 

 amending the Nationality Act to allow revocation of the nationality of jihadists without prior 

criminal convictions who have joined a terrorist group (unless the person would become 

stateless thereby) and of any person who has been trained at a terrorist training camp or who 

as an instructor contributes to “the transmission of skills and knowledge to jihadist 

fighters”;230 

 application of criminal law and revocation of a person’s passport when there are reasonable 

grounds to suspect that he/she will leave the country for jihadist purposes;231 

 passing a temporary administrative powers act to require, e.g., periodic reporting to the 

authorities of the activities of terrorist fighters who have returned to the Netherlands, 

 

227 Press Release, Ministry of Justice and Security, Cabinet Strengthens Integrated Approach to Jihadism and 

Radicalisation (Aug. 29, 2014), http://www.government.nl/ministries/venj/news/2014/09/03/cabinet-strengthensintegrated-approach-to-jihadism-and-radicalisation.html. 

228 For the text of the plan as presented to the House of Representatives of the Dutch Parliament, see I.W. Ostelten, 

Minister of Security and Justice, & L.F. Asscher, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, Integrale Aanpak 

Jihadisme [An Integrated Approach to Jihadism], Tweede Kamer der Staten Generaal, No. 29754-253 (Aug. 29, 

2014), http://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/detail.jsp?id=2014D29343&did=2014D29343. The webpage has 

hyperlinks to the letter from the two Ministers (under “Download het kamerstuk) and to the plan (under “Bijlage bij 

dit kamerstuk”). The plan is also mentioned in an explanatory memorandum on the adoption of a budget for the 

year 2015 for the Ministry of Security and Justice. Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal, Vaststelling van de 

begrotingsstaten van het Ministerie van Veiligheid en Justitie (VI) voor het jaar 2015 [Second Chamber of the 

States-General, Adoption of the Budget of the Ministry of Security and Justice (VI) for the year 2015] 34 000 No. 

VI. 2 (2014), http://www.eerstekamer.nl/behandeling/20140916/memorie_van_toelichting_2/document3/f= 

/vjn7kpy2zmef.pdf. 

229 Debat over de aanpak van Nederlandse jihadstrijders, TWEEDE KAMER, http://www.tweedekamer.nl/ 

nieuws/kamernieuws/newspage2932_debat_over_jihad (last visited Nov. 5, 2014).

230 Press Release, Ministry of Justice and Security, supra note 227; see also Peter Cluskey, Jihadists Face Losing 

Dutch Nationality, IRISH TIMES (July 15, 2014), http://www.Irishtimes.Com/News/World/Europe/Jihadists-FaceLosing-Dutch-Nationality-1.1866335.

231 Press Release, Ministry of Justice and Security, supra note 227. 
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relocation of “problem individuals,” and the use of restraining orders to avoid returnees’ 

further radicalization, further recruitment, etc.;232 and 

 in order to strengthen the detection of jihadist travel movements, preparing legislation to 

permit “the systematic collection and processing of travel data for the purpose of 

counterterrorism.”233 

As of December 2013, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political 

Violence (ICSR) estimated that 29 to 152 individuals from the Netherlands had traveled to Syria 

as foreign fighters.234 

New Zealand

On October 13, 2014, the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, announced that the Cabinet 

had approved terms of reference for a targeted review of security settings “to ensure that the 

capability, capacity and legislation to counter the evolving domestic threat posed by foreign 

terrorist fighters and other violent extremists are adequate to meet that threat.”235 Following the 

review, on November 5, 2014, the Prime Minister stated that Cabinet had agreed to propose a 

small number of legislative changes. These would allow 

 The Minister of Internal Affairs to cancel passports for up to three years 

 The Minister of Internal Affairs to temporarily suspend passports for up to 10 

working days in urgent cases 

 The NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to carry out video surveillance on 

private properties for the purpose of observing activities of security concern, 

modelled on the Police’s powers in the Search and Surveillance Act 

 The NZSIS to conduct emergency surveillance for up to 48 hours prior to the issue of 

a warrant, with the approval of its Director and subject to the oversight of the 

Inspector General of Intelligence and Security.236

While the review assessed whether a new offense related to foreign fighters should be created, 

officials concluded that this issue should be dealt with over a longer time frame than the review 

allowed.237 The Prime Minister stated that New Zealand government agencies have a watch list 

 

232 Id. 

233 Id. 

234 Aaron Y. Zelin & Sami David, Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria; Steep Rise Among Western Europeans, 

ICSR INSIGHT (Dec. 17, 2013), http://icsr.info/2013/12/icsr-insight-11000-foreign-fighters-syria-steep-rise-amongwestern-europeans/. 

235 New Zealand Government, Annex 1: Foreign Terrorist Fighters: Targeted Review Capability, Capacity and 

Legislation, Terms of Reference (Oct. 2014), http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/Terms_of_Reference_ 

Foreign_fighters_Targeted_Review_Capability_Capacity_and_Legislation.pdf; Press Release, Rt. Hon. John Key, 

Review of Foreign Fighters Security Settings to Begin (Oct. 13, 2014), http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/reviewforeign-fighters-security-settings-begin. 

236 Press Release, Rt. Hon. John Key, Protecting National Security and Responding to ISIL (Nov. 5, 2014), 

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/protecting-national-security-and-responding-isil. 

237 Id.
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of between thirty and forty “people of concern in the foreign fighter context,” some of whom 

have traveled to Syria to engage in fighting with IS. NZSIS will be provided with an additional 

NZ$7 million to increase the number of staff working on investigations. 238 A more 

comprehensive review of intelligence agencies and related legislation is to be conducted 

in 2015.239

Nigeria 

Nigerian law authorizes the country’s president to declare a person a “suspected international 

terrorist” (SIT) in certain circumstances.240 He may declare a person an SIT if he “reasonably 

suspects” that the person in question is currently or was in the past involved in acts of 

international terrorism,241 is currently affiliated with an international terrorist group,242 or has 

links to an international terrorist group and therefore is a risk to Nigeria’s national security.243 

He may also declare a person an SIT if the person’s name is added to a list of terrorists in a UN 

Security Council resolution or in any African Union and Economic Community of West African 

States (ECOWAS) document.244 In addition, he may declare a person an SIT if the person is 

considered a terrorist by any country or organization of which the president approves.245

If a person declared an SIT possesses Nigerian citizenship other than by birth, his/her citizenship 

may be revoked.246 If the person in question is affiliated with an international terrorist group, 

he/she may be charged and, on conviction, sentenced to a maximum twenty-year jail term.247

 

238 Id.

239 Speech, Rt. Hon. John Key, Speech to NZ Institute of International Affairs (Nov. 5, 2014), http://www.beehive. 

govt.nz/speech/speech-nz-institute-international-affairs-0. 

240 Terrorism (Prevention) Act No. 10 of 2011, § 9(1), 98 FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA OFFICIAL GAZETTE, No. 

59 (June 10, 2011), available at https://www.unodc.org/tldb/pdf/Nigeria/NIR_Terror_Prevent_2011.pdf. 

241 An “act of international terrorism” is “an act of terrorism involving: (a) a non-citizen; (b) a person possessing 

dual citizenship [one of which is Nigerian citizenship acquired other than by birth]; or (c) groups or individuals 

whose terrorist activities are foreign based or directed by the countries or groups outside Nigeria or whose activities 

transcend national boundaries.” Id. § 9(8). 

242 The president may declare a group to be an international terrorist group of it is 

(a) subject to the control or influence of persons outside Nigeria and the President reasonably suspects 

that it is involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of international terrorism; 

(b) listed as a group or entity involved in terrorist acts in any resolution of the United Nations Security 

Council or in any instrument of the African Union and Economic Community of West African 

States; or 

(c) considered as a group or entity involved in terrorist acts by the competent authority of a foreign 

State. 

Id. § 9(4). 

243 Id. § 9(1)(a)(iii). 

244 Id. § 9(1)(b). 

245 Id. § 9(1)(c). 

246 Id. § 9(3). 

247 Id. §§ 2(3)(i), 3(c), 4(1)(b) & (2), 13(b). 
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Norway 

The Norwegian Criminal Code (Straffeloven) criminalizes the planning of terrorism as well the 

recruitment of terrorists.248 Three individuals have recently been tried under this legislation for 

fighting in Syria.249 In addition, Norway is currently reviewing new legislation that would 

criminalize Fremmedekrigere, i.e., Norwegians traveling abroad to participate as foreign 

fighters. The proposed legislation has been sent to the Norwegian Parliament and is currently 

pending.250 So far the proposed legislation has reportedly met with some criticism, chiefly that it 

would be ineffective 251 and that it is so broad that it may even criminalize aid work. 252 

According to news reports, representatives from the Norwegian government have said they 

would not shy away from investigating the possibility of revoking citizenship for 

returning jihadists.253

Travel to some conflict zones is currently restricted in Norway, as the state automatically 

prevents asylum seekers from going back to their home countries and may under special 

circumstances also extend that prohibition to other countries.254 However, current Norwegian 

legislation does not strip a person of his or her permanent residence or citizenship if he or she 

travels to fight for other nations. Such transgressions would, however, prevent a person seeking 

asylum from being given asylum.255

Norway previously criminalized fighting in foreign wars during the Spanish Civil War period.256 

Violations were punished with up to three months of imprisonment or monetary fines for fighting 

in any foreign territory.257

 

248 STRAFFELOVEN [CRIMINAL CODE] (LOV 1902:10) §§ 147a–147c; see also Lover og regler, Forebygging av 

terrorisme [Laws and Regulations, Preventions of Terrorism], REGJERINGEN.NO, http://www.regjeringen.no/ 

nb/sub/radikalisering/radikaliseringskonferanse.html?id=663873 (last visited Oct. 31, 2014). 

249 Edith Palmer & Elin Hofverberg, Norway: Potential Terrorists Prosecuted for Planning to Support Terrorism in 

Syria, GLOBAL LEGAL MONITOR (May 30, 2014), http://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_ 

l205404003_text. 

250 Press Release, Regeringen, Sender lovforslag mot fremmedkrigere på høring [Legislation Bill on Foreign 

Fighters Sent for Hearing] (July 4, 2014), http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/pressesenter/pressemeldinger/ 

2014/Sender-lovforslag-mot-fremmedkrigere-pa-horing.html?id=765052; Høringsnotat, Snr: 14/3893, JUSTIS- OG 

BEREDSKAPSDEPARTEMENTET (July 2014), http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/38748986/Horingsnotat 

Fremmedkrigere.pdf. 

251 Ny terrorlov lunkent mottatt [New Terror Law Badly Received], NRK (Oct. 7, 2014), http://www.nrk.no/norge/ 

ny-terrorlov-lunkent-mottatt-1.11973415. 

252 Hastverksarbeid mot IS-krigere [Stressed, Sloppy Work on IS Warriors], AFTENPOSTEN (Oct. 12, 2014), 

http://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/leder/Hastverksarbeid-Amot-IS-krigere-7739520.html. 

253 Terrorists May Lose Norwegian Citizenship, THE LOCAL.NO (Aug. 25, 2014), 

http://www.thelocal.no/20140825/norway-to-revoke-citizenship-of-terror-warriors-fighting-abroad. 

254 Forskrift om utlendingers adgang til riket og deres opphold her (Utlendingsforskriften) [Regulation on Foreigners 

Access to the Nation and Their Stay Here] (FOR 2009:1286) ch. 12:2, para. 5. 

255 REGJERINGEN.NO, supra note 248. 

256 Lov angående forholdsregler for å hindre deltagelse i krig i fremmed land [Act on Measures to Prevent 

Participation in Wars in Foreign Countries] (Lov 1937:1), http://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1937-03-19-1. 
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Oman 

Article 3(d) of Oman’s Royal Decree 8 of 2007 punishes individuals collaborating with terrorist 

organizations abroad with a term of imprisonment of not less than ten years. If a terrorist act 

occurred in Oman as a result of such collaboration, the punishment is death.258

Pakistan 

Though there are no official estimates, the ICSR has reported that there may be up to 330 

Pakistani foreign fighters in Syria.259 Pakistan also faces a considerable domestic terrorism and 

militancy problem. The Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997260 is the primary legislative framework for 

combating terrorism in the country. On March 5, 2013, the Senate of Pakistan passed the AntiTerrorism Bill 2013, which amended the definition of “terrorism” under section 6 of the Act to 

include threats and acts of terrorism against a “foreign government or population or an 

international organization.” 261 That Act has criminal provisions prohibiting membership, 

support, and funding of certain prescribed terrorist organizations. 

Pakistan’s Penal Code contains certain “offenses against the state,” which include waging war 

against any power in alliance or at peace with Pakistan and “committing depredation on 

territories of Power at peace with Pakistan.”262

The authority to revoke citizenship or cancel passports is provided in the Pakistan Citizenship 

Act, 1951. A naturalized citizen can only be deprived of his or her citizenship if it is in the 

public interest and in certain circumstances, such as (1) disloyalty to the Constitution; 

(2) communication or assistance with an enemy of which Pakistan is at war; or (3) where the 

citizen “[h]as within five years of being naturalized been sentenced in any country to 

imprisonment for a term of not less than twelve months.” 263 Under the Passports Act, 1974, the 

government of Pakistan has the power to cancel or impound a passport and does not have to 

provide notice if the person “has been engaged in subversive activities or in activities which are 

prejudicial to the interest of Pakistan or Pakistan’s relations with any foreign power.”264

 

 257 Id. 

258 Royal Decree 8 of 2007, 832 AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH (Jan 22, 2007) (in Arabic). 

259 ICSR Insight: Up to 11,000 Foreign Fighters in Syria; Steep Rise Among Western Europeans, ICSR (Dec. 17, 

2013), http://icsr.info/2013/12/icsr-insight-11000-foreign-fighters-syria-steep-rise-among-western-europeans/. 

260 Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), No. XXVII of 1997, http://www.fia.gov.pk/ata.htm. 

261 Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, No. 13 of 2013, § 3(a), THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN EXTRAORDINARY (Mar. 

19, 2013), http://www.senate.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1364482779_599.pdf. 

262 PAK. PENAL CODE, 1860, §§ 125, 126, http://www.fia.gov.pk/default_files/ppc.pdf. 

263 Pakistan Citizenship Act, No. 2 of 1951, § 16, available at http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/3ae6b4ffa.pdf. 

264 Passports Act, No. 20 of 1974, § 8, http://molaw.bizz.pk/bodyin.php?cod=550081. 
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Philippines 

In September 2014, a press release issued by the Philippine Senate stated that Senator Aquilino 

Pimentel had exhorted the Philippine government to immediately address reports indicating that 

IS was recruiting Filipino citizens to join in its fight in the Middle East.265 However, the press 

release did not provide details as to the type of action that the Philippine government could take 

to address this issue.266

No information could be located on legal provisions or a formal legislative debate specifically 

addressing the treatment of citizens or residents of the Philippines who return as Islamist fighters 

from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc. 

Poland 

Poland has reportedly agreed to follow other Western European countries in restricting the right 

of free movement and tightening border controls in order to “stop jihadis returning to Europe 

after fighting in Syria or Iraq. These countries have also agreed to make it a criminal offence to 

travel abroad for terrorist purposes meaning that returning foreign fighters can be arrested.”267

 

Qatar 

Article 7 of Law 3 of 2004 on combating terrorism punishes Qatari citizens joining terrorist 

organizations abroad with a term of imprisonment ranging from five to fifteen years. The 

provision further states that the punishment will be imprisonment for ten to fifteen years if the 

individual received military training by such an organization. Individuals who receive such 

training in order to commit a terrorist act in Qatar are subject to the death penalty.268

Russia 

In Russia, the prosecution of returning fighters is conducted under current criminal law, which 

provides for a five- to ten-year term of imprisonment followed by a two-year restriction on civil 

liberties for participation in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state, if this 

formation is not legally recognized by that state and involvement in such activities contradicts 

the interests of the Russian Federation.269 Reportedly, this article was applied when a Russian 

national who returned home after being wounded while fighting for the Free Syrian Army was 

 

265 Press Release, Philippine Senate, Stop Recruitment of Filipino Youth by ISIS – Pimentel (Sept. 21, 2014), 

https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2014/0921_pimentel1.asp. 

266 Id. 

267 Bruno Waterfield, Britain Part of Group of EU Countries Pushing for Firmer Border Control Over Isil Threat, 

THE TELEGRAPH (Oct. 4, 2014), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/11140803/Britain-part-ofgroup-of-EU-countries-pushing-for-firmer-border-controls-over-Isil-threat.html. 

268 Law 3 of 2004, 3 AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH 21 (Mar. 15, 2004), available at http://www.almeezan.qa/Law 

Page.aspx?id=294&language=ar (in Arabic). 

269 CRIMINAL CODE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION art. 208.2, Law No. 63-FZ of June 13, 1996, available at

http://www.uk-rf.com/glava24.html (in Russian). 
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apprehended and sentenced by a court in Southern Russia in October 2014.270 It was reported 

that three criminal cases were launched in absentia against people who are thought to be fighting 

in Syria while another provincial court ordered the name of a local resident to be placed on the 

international wanted list.271

In 2013, the Russian Anti-Terrorism Law was amended with a provision that recognizes as a 

“terrorist activity” participation in an armed group abroad whose aims are contrary to Russian 

interests. Relevant amendments were made to the Criminal Code.272 

Saudi Arabia 

Royal Decree No. 44(a) of 2014 penalizes Saudi citizens with a term of imprisonment ranging 

from three to twenty years for committing the following offenses: (1) joining extremist 

organizations; (2) participating in military operations abroad with such organizations; and (3) 

supporting those organizations materially or through recruiting others to join them. Saudis 

affiliated with the Saudi Armed Forces face an enhanced term of imprisonment ranging from five 

to thirty years if they commit these offenses.273 

Serbia 

According to news reports, amendments to Serbia’s existing criminal law aimed at making 

participation in a war or affiliation with armed groups in another country punishable by up to ten 

years of imprisonment will take effect in the Fall of 2014.274

Singapore 

On October 7, 2014, Teo Chee Hean, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister 

for National Security, and Minister for Home Affairs, said, in response to an oral parliamentary 

question on IS, 

. . . we are taking measures to prevent Singaporeans from getting involved in the violence 

there or from carrying out activities in support of ISIL. We have co-sponsored the United 

 

270 Joanna Paraszczuk, Chechen Man Gets 3 Years for Fighting in Syria, CHECHENS IN SYRIA.COM (Oct. 3, 2014), 

http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=22631. 

271 Mairbek Vatchagaev, Number of Disillusioned North Caucasian Militants Returning from Syria Increases, 15(2) 

NORTH CAUCUSUS WEEKLY (Jamestown Foundation, Oct. 24, 2014), http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews 

%5Bswords%5D=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews%5Bany_of_the_words%5D=cases%20in%20a

bsentia&tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=2&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=43001&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash

=a19ed08c1f94243ed1069af946a3298a. 

272 Federal Law No. 302-FZ of Nov. 2, 2013, http://base.garant.ru/70493356/#block_7 (in Russian). 

273 Press Relase, Saudi Press Agency, Royal Decree Punishing Individuals Joining Military Operations Abroad or 

Joining Extremist Organizations (Feb. 03, 2014), http://www.spa.gov.sa/report-viewer.php?id=1194732& 

notreport=1 (in Arabic). 

274 Miki Trajkovski, Macedonia and Kosovo Support New Law Sanctioning Foreign Fighters, SETIMES.COM (Aug. 

29, 2014), http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/blogreview/2014/08/29/feature06. 
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Nations Security Council resolution on foreign terrorist fighters that requires all nations 

to adopt laws that would make it a serious crime for their nationals to, among others, join 

extremist groups such as ISIL and AQ [Al-Qaeda] affiliate Al-Nusra Front. Any 

Singaporean, who assists, supports, promotes or joins violent organisations like ISIL 

would have demonstrated a dangerous tendency to support the use of violence. Such a 

person poses a real threat to Singapore’s national security, and will be dealt with in 

accordance with our laws. 

Our approach will be carefully calibrated to the specifics of each case. Where necessary, 

the Internal Security Act (ISA) will be used in order to pre-empt and neutralise these 

terrorism threats to the security of our citizens and our country.275 

The Deputy Prime Minister added that “a handful of Singaporeans” already participate in the 

fight, and emphasized that “[w]e will continue to investigate anyone who expresses support for 

terrorism or an interest to pursue violence.”276 

The Internal Security Act (ISA) was first promulgated by Malaysia in 1960 and extended to 

Singapore when it became a state in 1963.277 After Singapore’s independence in 1965, ISA 

remained in force.278 The law “empowers the government to address threats to national security 

not just through preventive detention, but also other measures like the imposition of curfews to 

deal with civil disorder.”279

South Africa 

A citizen or resident who engages in terrorist activities or is affiliated with a terrorist 

organization abroad may be prosecuted in South Africa for the crime of terrorist activities or for 

committing offenses associated with terrorist activities.280 These include the act of entering or 

remaining in a country or making one’s self available “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in 

association with” a group engaging in terrorist activities.281 

 

275 Oral Reply to Parliamentary Question on Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) by Mr. Teo Chee Hean, 

Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs (Oct. 7, 2014), 

http://www.mha.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MzI1NA%3D%3D-SyicFf3pGBw%3D. 

276 Id. 

277 Internal Security Act, Cap. 143 (1985 rev. ed.), http://statutes.agc.gov.sg/aol/search/display/view.w3p;ident= 

145e6ff1-50c0-4962-8e34-f7f75903961e;page=0;query=DocId%3A5ba26ddb-fd4c-4e2e-8071-

478c08941758%20Depth%3A0%20Status%3Ainforce;rec=0. 

278 Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, The Past, Present and Future of the Internal Security Act, SINGAPORE PUBLIC LAW (June 5, 

2012), http://singaporepubliclaw.com/2012/06/05/internal-security-act/. 

279 Speech, Teo Chee Hean, Parliamentary Speech on the Internal Security Act (Oct. 19, 2011), http://www.mha 

.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=MjEzMg%3D%3D-as%2B9gJeLXQ0%3D. 

280 Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004, §§ 1, 2, 3 & 15, 

8 BUTTERWORTHS STATUTES OF SOUTH AFRICA (updated through 2013), available at http://www.saflii.org/za/ 

legis/consol_act/pocdataraa2004799/. 

281 Id. 
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A person who engages in terrorist activity could, on conviction, be subject to a penalty of up to 

life imprisonment, whereas a person who commits a crime connected with terrorist activity may 

be subject to a maximum of fifteen years in prison.282 

A naturalized South African citizen may also lose his South African citizenship for engaging in 

terrorist activities abroad. Such person may lose his citizenship if he “engages, under the flag of 

another country, in a war that the Republic [of South Africa] does not support.”283 The country’s 

Minister of Home Affairs is also authorized to cancel citizenship of a South African who is also 

a citizen of another country if the person was convicted and sentenced for a prison term of at 

least a year for an act that constitutes a crime in South Africa or the Minister believes that “it is 

in the public interest that such citizen shall cease to be a South African citizen.”284

South Korea 

South Korea’s Criminal Act has a provision very similar to one in the Japanese Penal Code that 

was applied by the Japanese police in the case of a man who prepared to go to join IS. The 

Korean provision may be applicable to similar cases. It states as follows: 

Article 111 (Private War Against a Foreign Country) 

(1) A person who wages a private war against a foreign country shall be punished by 

limited imprisonment without prison labor for at least one year. 

(2) Attempts to commit crimes specified in the preceding paragraph shall be punished. 

(3) A person who makes preparations or conspires with intent to commit the crime of 

paragraph (1) shall be punished by imprisonment without prison labor for not more 

than three years or by a fine not exceeding five million won: Provided, That when he 

denounces himself before the commission of such intended crimes, the punishment 

shall be mitigated or remitted.285 

Spain 

The Spanish government is considering an amendment to the Penal Code286 that would make it a 

crime of terrorism to fight in armed conflicts abroad on behalf of groups considered to be 

illegal militias.287 The aim of the proposed legislation is to give domestic courts jurisdiction to 

prosecute persons joining jihadist groups, slow the flow of foreign fighters into the ranks of IS, 

 

282 Id. § 18. 

283 South Africa Citizenship Act 88 of 1995, § 6, available at http://www.lawsofsouthafrica.up.ac.za/index.php/ 

browse/citizens-and-foreigners/south-african-citizenship-act-88-of-1995/act/88-of-1995-south-african-citizenshipact-1-jan-2013-to-date-pdf/download. 

284 Id. § 8. 

285 Criminal Act, Act No. 293 (Sept. 18, 1953), amended by Act No. 5057 (Dec. 29, 1995), art. 111, English 

translation available at http://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?hseq=28627&lang=ENG. 

286 Ley Orgánica 10/1995, de 23 de noviembre, del Código Penal [Penal Code], BOLETÍN OFICIAL DEL ESTADO

[B.O.E.], Nov. 24, 1995, https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444. 

287 Miguel González, El Gobierno Estudia Castigar como Delito el Combatir en el Extranjero, EL PAÍS (Sept. 16, 

2014, http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/09/16/actualidad/1410865949_035401.html. 
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and, most importantly, help control the threat they pose on their return to the country by 

forbidding their exit from Spain to join a terrorist organization abroad or their 

subsequent reentry.288 

According to news reports, the proposed amendment to the Penal Code focuses on a specific 

definition of so-called “passive training,” which is defined as the behavior of someone who is 

being indoctrinated for combat abroad and which may take place in prisons, worship centers, or 

via social media.289 The government is also considering criminalizing the “self-radicalization” 

of the so-called “lone wolf,” or the abetting of the perpetration of terrorist acts or their 

encouragement through the Internet.290 In addition, the Law on Foreigners is being considered 

for amendment in order to speed up deportations and implement entry prohibition procedures for 

those who have committed serious crimes. The Civil Code would be amended to make the loss 

of Spanish nationality an accessory penalty to the crime of terrorism. Convicted foreign fighters 

would also be deprived of social benefits under the Law on Subsidies.291

Spain’s Interior Ministry has identified approximately fifty Spanish citizens who have joined 

jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, including the IS group. Most of these foreign fighters are from 

the Spanish-speaking enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco.292 It has also been reported that 

two jihadists, using a video in Spanish posted on the Internet, called for Andalusia (Al-Andalus) 

to join the so-called Caliphate under the rule of IS.293

Sudan 

Section 3 of article 3 of the anti-terrorism law of Sudan provides that the law may apply to any 

terrorist crime committed abroad if it is considered a crime under the local law and if the country 

where the crime was committed agrees to the application of the Sudanese law.294 Under this 

article, Sudanese citizens as well as noncitizens in the country can be prosecuted for terrorist 

crimes committed abroad. 

 

288 Id.

289 Jorge A. Rodríguez & Jesús Duva, Reformaremos Cuatro Grandes Leyes para Combatir Mejor el Yihadismo, EL 

PAÍS (Sept. 20, 2014), http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/09/20/actualidad/1411240324_213061.html. 

290 Id. 

291 Id. (citing Ley Orgánica 4/2000, de 11 de enero, sobre Derechos y Libertades es de los Extranjeros en España y 

su integración social [Organic Law on the Rights and Freedoms of Foreigners in Spain and Their Social Integration], 

B.O.E., Jan. 12, 2000, http://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2000-544; Ley de Subvenciones [Law on 

Subsidies] (Nov. 17, 2003), B.O.E., Nov. 18, 2003, https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2003-20977; 

CÓDIGO CIVIL, 1889, B.O.E., July 25, 1889, http://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763). 

292 Id. 

293 La Yihad Recluta Cada Vez a Mas Combatientes en Espana [The Jihad Recruits More Combatants in Spain], EL 

COMERCIO (July 16, 2014), http://www.elcomercio.es/politica/201407/16/yihad-recluta-cada-combatientes20140716012104-rc.html. For an in-depth discussion of the issue see Fernando Reinares & Carola García-Calvo, 

The Spanish Foreign Fighter Contingent in Syria, REAL INSTITUTO EL CANO (Jan. 31, 2014), http://www.real 

institutoelcano.org/wps/portal/web/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_es/zonas_

es/terrorismo+internacional/spanish-foreign-fighter-contingent-syria. 

294 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001, http://www.moj.gov.sd/content/lawsv4/10/24.htm (in Arabic). 
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Sweden 

The financing of terrorism is illegal in Sweden.295 In addition, Sweden has adopted into law the 

European Convention of January 17, 1977, on the Suppression of Terrorism. 296 However, 

Sweden has no legislation that criminalizes fighting for terrorist groups abroad. Two initiatives 

have previously been voted down in Parliament. The outgoing government had plans to 

reintroduce legislation that criminalized fighting for IS and similar groups.297 That legislation 

was criticized by left-leaning Muslims, who called it a political attack on Muslims.298 Others 

were more hopeful that legislation would pass later this year.299

New legislation prohibiting terror trips abroad is undergoing an expedited review, according to 

the newly appointed Justice Minister, Morgan Johansson.300 The goal is to have the legislation 

in place by 2015.301 The expedited legislation will only cover fighting with groups that are on 

the United Nations terror list, but the Justice Minister has declared that he will also initiate a 

broader review aimed at legislation prohibiting Swedes from participating in warfare 

abroad generally.302 

Sweden previously had legislation in place prohibiting fighting abroad during the Spanish Civil 

War.303 It prohibited fighting, recruitment, and travel to or through Spain.304

Switzerland 

The Ordinance on the Prohibition of the Islamic State Group (IS) and Related Organisations, 

adopted on October 8, 2014, not only bans the IS and any related groups in Switzerland,305 but 

 

295 Lag om åtgarder mot penningtvätt och finansiering av terrorism [Act on Measures Against Money Laundering 

and Financing of Terrorism] (Svensk Författningssamling [SFS] 2009:62), http://www.riksdagen.se/sv/DokumentLagar/Lagar/Svenskforfattningssamling/Lag-200962-om-atgarder-mot-_sfs-2009-62/. 

296 Lag om straff för terroristbrott [Act on Punishment for Terrorist Crimes] (SFS 2003:148). 

297 Op-ed, Jan Björklund & Birgitta Ohlsson, Nu krävs ny lag mot terrorträning, SVENSKA DAGBLADET (Aug. 14,

2014), http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/nu-kravs-ny-lag-mot-terrortraning_3821742.svd. 

298 Op-ed, Zakarias Zouhir, En politisk attack mot oss muslimer, SVENSKA DAGBLADET (Aug. 18, 2014), 

http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/en-politisk-attack-mot-oss-muslimer_3831086.svd. 

299 Op-ed, Edward Norden & Staffan Danielsson, Kamp mot extremism har försummats, SVENSKA DAGBLADET

(Aug. 18, 2014), http://www.svd.se/opinion/brannpunkt/kamp-mot-extremism-har-forsummats_3829614.svd. 

300 Lag mot krigsresor ska snabbutredas – “vi måste agera nu,” DAGENS JURIDIK (Oct. 29, 2014), 

http://www.dagensjuridik.se/2014/10/lag-mot-krigsresor-ska-snabbutredas-vi-maste-agera-nu; Lag mot terrorresor 

ska snabbutredas, DAGENS NYHETER (Oct. 29, 2014), http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/lag-mot-terrorresor-skasnabbutredas. 

301 DAGENS JURIDIK, supra note 300; DAGENS NYHETER, supra note 300. 

302 DAGENS JURIDIK, supra note 300; DAGENS NYHETER, supra note 300. 

303 Lag angående åtgärder för att förhindra frivilligas deltagande i inbördeskriget i Spanien m.m. [Act on Measures 

to Prevent Volunteers from Participating in the Spanish Civil War etc.] 1(SFS 1937:61). 

304 Id. §§ 1–3. 

305 Ordonnance interdisant le groupe «Etat islamique» et les organisations apparentées (Ordonnance) art. 1 (Oct. 8, 

2014), http://www.admin.ch/bundesrecht/aop/00724/index.html?lang=fr (click on hyperlink under date 
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also subjects to punishment anyone (which could include a returned foreign fighter) who 

associates with such groups on Swiss territory or engages in any activities that provide material 

or human resources to support the group, organizes propaganda campaigns on its behalf or in 

furtherance of its objectives, or recruits new members or encourages its activities in any other 

manner. Punishment for violation of the Ordinance is a sentence of imprisonment of up to three 

years or a fine, except where more severe criminal provisions apply.306 Where applicable, under 

Criminal Code articles 70(5) and 72, assets of an organization that contravenes the Ordinance 

might also be forfeited.

307

Returned Swiss fighters for IS could also face prosecution for their actions abroad, as the 

Ordinance provides that anyone who commits the above-named offenses outside the country is 

punishable if arrested in Switzerland and not extradited. However, the Criminal Code’s 

provisions excluding a person from criminal liability in Switzerland if he or she has been 

acquitted of the offense abroad and prescribing the taking into account of partial sentences 

served abroad would apply.308 The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service reportedly estimates that 

in 2014 twenty-five Swiss citizens have traveled to Iraq and Syria, with at least ten of them 

having served as foreign fighters for groups including the IS.309 

Tajikistan 

Amendments to the Criminal Code introducing criminal responsibility for participation in armed 

conflicts in foreign countries were adopted by the Parliament of Tajikistan on May 21, 2014. 

Tajikistani citizens and residents fighting abroad are now punishable by imprisonment for a 

twelve- to twenty-year term if captured. The same punishment applies to recruiters of 

militants.310 At the same time, the Office of Prosecutor General offered all Tajikistani citizens 

fighting in the ranks of rebel forces in Syria amnesty if they return to Tajikistan, as long as they 

did not commit any crimes and did not join extremist organizations abroad.311 Before adoption 

of these amendments, the authorities convicted those who took part in fighting in Syria of 

 “08.10.2014” to access PDF version); see also Press Release, Federal Administration, The Federal Council Adopts 

Ordinance Banning the Islamic State Group and Related Organisations (Oct. 8, 2014), https://www.news.admin.ch/ 

message/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=54773. The Ordinance entered into force on October 9 and will initially be 

applicable only for six months, with the possibility of an extension. Id. 

306 Ordonnance art. 2(1). 

307 Id. art. 3. 

308 Id. art. 2(2); SWISS CRIMINAL CODE, Book One: General Provisions, art. 7(4), (5) (Dec. 21, 1937, status as of July 

1, 2014), http://www.admin.ch/ch/e/rs/311_0/indexni1.html. 

309 J.C. Finley, Switzerland Bans Membership in Islamic State, UPI (Oct. 8, 2014), http://www.upi.com/Top_ 

News/World-News/2014/10/08/Switzerland-bans-membership-in-Islamic-State/9461412791054/. 

310 Legislative News, PARLIAMENT OF TAJIKISTAN, http://www.parlament.tj/ru//index.php?option=com_ 

content&view=article&id=1139 (in Russian); see also Nadin Bahrom, Tajikistan Ready to Prosecute Citizens Who 

Fight Abroad, CENTRAL ASIA ONLINE (Aug. 12, 2014), http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/ 

main/2014/08/12/feature-01. 

311 Prosecutor Offers Amnesty To Tajik Fighters Who Return From Syria, RADIO FREE/EUROPE RADIO LIBERTY

(July 7, 2014), http://www.rferl.org/content/tajikistan-syria-militants-amnesty-offer-tajik-islamists/25448622.html. 
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“participation in a criminal group” and sentenced them to various prison terms, none longer than 

two years.312

On September 26, 2014, religious leaders of Tajikistan issued a proclamation banning Tajikistani 

Muslims from participation in hostilities against other followers of Islam.313 

Tanzania 

A citizen or resident of Tanzania who takes part in the activities of a terrorist organization or 

participates in terrorist acts abroad may be charged for acts of terrorism in Tanzania.314 This 

includes an intentional act or omission that “may seriously damage a country or an international 

organization” or seriously intimidate a population. 315 It also includes membership in a 

“proscribed organization,” which includes international terrorist groups.316 A person may also be 

declared to be a “suspected international terrorist” if the person is reasonably suspected of being 

a member of an international terrorist group or is listed as such in a UN Security Council 

resolution, “any instrument of the international community,” or by any country or 

international organization.317 

Membership in a terrorist group is an offense punishable, on conviction, by at least eighteen 

years of imprisonment.318 The Minister of Home Affairs may also, among other things, issue 

regulations denying entry into Tanzania and freezing the assets of persons listed as suspected 

international terrorists or members of international terrorist groups.319 In addition, a naturalized 

Tanzanian citizen who joins an international terrorist group may be deprived of his 

Tanzanian citizenship.320 

Tunisia 

Article 3 of a draft law pending before the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly defines a 

terrorist organization as any group of three or more persons organized for the purpose of 

 

312 Zamira Eshanova, Karimov Prepares For Terrorists, RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY (Jan. 24, 2014), 

http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbekistan-imu-terrorism/25241539.html. 

313 Mehrangez Tursunzoda, Tajik Fatwa Misfires, INSTITUTE FOR WAR AND PEACE REPORTING (Oct. 24, 2014), 

http://iwpr.net/report-news/tajik-fatwa-misfires. 

314 Prevention of Terrorism Act No. 21 of 2002, § 4, http://polis.parliament.go.tz/PAMS/docs/21-2002.pdf. 

315 Id. 

316 Id. §§ 4, 6 & 12. Tanzania has so far designated Al-Shabaab Al Islamiya and Al-Qaeda as suspected 

international terrorist groups. Prevention of Terrorism Regulations, 2012, sched., SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION TO THE 

GAZETTE OF UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Vol. 93, No. 35 (Aug. 31, 2012). 

317 Prevention of Terrorism Act § 12. 

318 Id. § 25. 

319 Id. § 12. 

320 Tanzania Citizenship Act No. 6 of 1995, §§ 15 & 16, IX LAWS OF TANZANIA, Cap. 358 (rev. ed. 2010), 

http://www.immigration.go.tz/downloads/Citizenship%20Act%201995.pdf. 
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committing terrorist crimes in or outside the country. If passed, article 9 would criminalize 

joining such organizations.321 

Uganda 

A Ugandan citizen or resident who joins a terrorist group abroad may be penalized under the 

country’s law. An act of terrorism, either as an individual act or as part of a terrorist group, by a 

citizen or resident abroad is a serious offense under Ugandan law. Membership in a listed 

terrorist organization is also a crime.322 Uganda has listed as terrorist organizations the Lords 

Resistance Army, the Lords Resistance Movement, Allied Democratic Forces, and Al-Qaeda.323

An act of terrorism is a capital offense, while membership in a terrorist organization is, on 

conviction, punishable by a maximum of ten years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to UGX 20 

million (around US$7,273).324 In addition, a naturalized Ugandan citizen convicted of a crime of 

terrorism or membership in a terrorist organization abroad may lose his/her citizenship.325

United Arab Emirates (UAE) 

Under article 10 of UAE Law 1 of 2004, whose purpose is to combat terrorism, as amended by 

Law 7 of 2014, individuals cooperating with or joining organizations located outside the UAE 

that adopt terrorism to achieve their goals are punishable with a set term of imprisonment or life 

imprisonment. The provision also states that the term of imprisonment should not be less than 

ten years if the individual received military training by such an organization. In the event that 

the individual participated in any terrorist activities, he/she will be punished with 

life imprisonment.326

United Kingdom 

Antiterrorism legislation in the United Kingdom provides for a large number of criminal offenses 

connected with terrorism. It is a criminal offense for any British national to travel abroad to 

commit or prepare a terrorist offense, or to obtain training in terrorism, and suspects may be 

prosecuted in the UK for other acts of terrorism, even if the acts are committed overseas.327 Any 

 

321 Draft Basic Law No. 009/2014 concerning Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering, http://www.anc.tn/site/ 

servlet/Fichier?code_obj=81532&code_exp=1&langue=1 (in Arabic). 

322 Anti-Terrorism Act No. 14 of 2002, §§ 3, 6 & 10, LAWS OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, ACTS ENACTED IN 2002 

(2002), available at https://www.unodc.org/tldb/showDocument.do?documentUid=6589. 

323 Id. § 9 & Second Sched. 

324 Id. §§ 6 & 10. 

325 Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control Act § 18, 3 LAWS OF UGANDA, Cap. 66 (rev. ed. 2000), available at

http://www.ulii.org/ug/legislation/consolidated-act/66; Uganda Citizenship and Immigration Control (Amendment) 

Act No. 5 of 2009, § 8, CII (41) ACTS SUPPLEMENT TO THE UGANDA GAZETTE (Aug. 21, 2009), available at http:// 

www.ugandahighcommission.com/files/The_Citizenship_&_Immigration_Control_Amendment_Act,_2009.pdf. 

326 Law 1 of 2014, 417 AL-JARĪDAH AL-RASMĪYAH 43 (July 28, 2004) (in Arabic). 

327 Terrorism Act 2000, c. 11, § 63A-B, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/contents. 
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acts to prepare, or assist others to prepare, for acts of terrorism are also criminal offenses, 

punishable by up to life imprisonment.328 In addition, the Terrorism Acts provide the police with 

many powers, including the power to take terrorism prevention and investigation measures 

(TPIMs), which are restrictive measures imposed on a person, such as the requirement to reside 

at a specific property and limitations on travel.329 

The police have the authority to stop and question individuals they suspect of being terrorists at 

ports and borders.330 The Home Secretary can reportedly use the Royal Prerogative to strip a 

person of his/her British passport and therefore disrupt any overseas travel activity.331 According 

to news sources, the Home Secretary currently holds twenty-three passports under this power.332 

The British Nationality Act permits the Secretary of State to deprive a person of his/her British 

citizenship, unless it would render him/her stateless, if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the 

person has “done anything seriously prejudicial to the interests of the UK or a British Overseas 

Territory.”333 The Secretary of State can also take British citizenship away if obtained through 

naturalization by fraud, false representation, or concealment of a material fact, such as past 

involvement with terrorist activities.334 To address the issue of British citizens fighting for 

terrorist organizations overseas, the Home Secretary has also noted that the government may 

utilize the Treason Act in cases where terrorists have pledged allegiance to 

another organization.335

Despite these expansive laws, an estimated five hundred British nationals have traveled to Iraq 

and Syria to fight on behalf of militant groups, including IS, revealing a gap in the ability of 

legislation to manage such individuals. The Prime Minister is calling for new laws to close this 

gap by providing authorities with greater powers to prevent individuals suspected of being 

terrorists from traveling overseas.336 The aim of these laws is to disrupt terrorism activities by 

preventing individuals from traveling abroad to fight in the first instance. Proposed measures 

 

328 Terrorism Act 2006, c. 11, s. 5, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/11/contents. 

329 Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act 2011, c. 23, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/ 

23/contents; HOUSE OF COMMONS HOME AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, COUNTER-TERRORISM SEVENTEENTH REPORT OF 

SESSION 2013–14, HC 231, 2013-14, ¶ 119, www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/ 

231/231.pdf. 

330 Terrorism Act 2000, c. 11, sched. 7, http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/contents. 

331 Melanie Gower, Deprivation of British Citizenship and Withdrawal of Passport Facilities (Sept. 4, 2014), 

SN/HA/6920, http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN06820/deprivation-ofbritish-citizenship-and-withdrawal-of-passport-facilities. 

332 Dominic Casciani, Why New Anti-Terror Powers Aim to Disrupt Not Prosecute, BBC NEWS (Sept. 1, 2014), 

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-29012812. 

333 British Nationality Act 1981, c. 61, § 40(2), http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/contents. 

334 Id. 

335 Steven Swinford, British Jihadis Fighting for Islamic State Could Be Tried for Treason, Philip Hammond Says, 

THE TELEGRAPH (London) (Oct. 10, 2014), http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-theuk/11167255/British-Jihadis-fighting-for-Islamic-State-could-be-tried-for-treason-Philip-Hammond-says.html. 

336 BBC NEWS, supra note 332. 
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include providing police with the power to confiscate the passports of suspected terrorists at UK 

borders and extending the TPIMs to include the power to relocate suspects. Other measures 

include requiring terrorists to take part in a “de-radicalisation” program and, controversially, 

blocking the return of British citizens to UK soil, regardless of whether they have dual 

nationality, if they are suspected of terrorism overseas.337

Uzbekistan 

The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has reportedly warned citizens who have left the 

country to join Islamic extremist groups and train at terrorist camps that, if they return home, 

they will go to prison for a term of five to seven years. Inside Uzbekistan, individuals who know 

about potential terrorist activities and do not inform the authorities are also being sent to 

prison.338 Relevant amendments to the Criminal Code were passed in January 2014.339 

Vietnam 

Vietnam’s Penal Code has a provision that punishes the act of working as a mercenary: 

Article 344. Recruiting mercenaries or working as mercenaries 

1. Those who recruit, train or use mercenaries to oppose a friendly country of Vietnam or 

a national liberation movement shall be sentenced to between ten years and twenty years 

of imprisonment or life imprisonment. 

2. Those who work as mercenaries shall be sentenced to between five years and fifteen 

years of imprisonment.340

No definition of “friendly country” was found. 

Zambia 

A person connected to Zambia who joins a terrorist organization abroad violates the country’s 

terrorism law. Zambian law expressly outlaws membership in a terrorist organization abroad, 

stating that “[a] person [including a citizen or resident] who forms, owns, belongs or professes to 

belong to an organization that is a declared terrorist organization commits an offence.”341 A 

group may be listed as a terrorist organization in a number of ways, including if declared as such 

by the Zambian government based on a reasonable suspicion that it engages in terrorism or listed 

 

337 David Cameron Outlines New Anti-Terror Measures to MPs, BBC NEWS (Sept. 1, 2014), http://www.bbc.com/ 

news/uk-29008316. 

338 Eshanova, supra note 312. 

339 Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 365, NARODNOE SLOVO (official publication), Jan. 21, 2014, 

http://parliament.gov.uz/ru/law.php (in Russian). 

340 PENAL CODE, No. 15/1999/QH10, Dec. 21, 1999, English translation available at http://moj.gov.vn/vbpq/ 

en/Lists/Vn%20bn%20php%20lut/View_Detail.aspx?ItemID=610. 

341 Anti-Terrorism Act No. 21 of 2007, §§ 3 & 17, available at http://www.zambialii.org/files/zm/legislation/act/ 

2007/22/fa2007190.pdf. 
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as such by the UN Security Council or the African Union. 342 The definition of the term 

“terrorism” includes acts outside of Zambia.343 

The penalty for membership of a citizen or resident in a terrorist organization is, on conviction, 

imprisonment for life.344 In addition, a naturalized Zambian citizen who joins the ranks of a 

terrorist organization abroad may lose his citizenship.345

 

342 Id. § 16. 

343 Id. § 2. 

344 Id. § 17. 

345 Citizenship of Zambia Act § 22, 9 LAWS OF ZAMBIA, Cap. 124 (rev. ed. 1995), available at http://www.refworld. 

org/docid/3ae6b4d4c.html. 
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