France stripes jihadist of Chechen origin of French nationality
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – French authorities stripped a Chechen individual of his nationality over charges of leading a jihadist group in Syria between 2013 and 2014, the Official Journal published on Wednesday.
The Official Journal published the decision to revoke the French nationality of Khassanbek Tourchaev. A Chechen who became a French citizen in 2008, was accused of leading a jihadist group in Syria from 2013 to 2014.
In 2019, Tourchaev received a ten-year prison sentence, with two-thirds security, from the Paris Special Assize Court. During the trial, he admitted to traveling to Syria and staying there for around three months. He claimed that his intention was to search for his brothers rather than participate in warfare.
However, he was accused of fighting and training others in explosives. He was suspected of being a leader within a jihadist group associated with the Caucasus Emirate, which was part of the Islamic Front and had connections to Ahrar al-Sham.
Tourchaev, 53, grew up in Grozny, Chechnya. He was forced to flee his country due to war and sought asylum in France. Since 2005, he has been monitored by intelligence agencies due to his religious extremism, and he considers himself Salafist.
Between 2019 and 2023, at least twenty individuals in France had their nationality revoked due to involvement in terrorism, according to official figures published by the journal.