**Swiss Federal Administrative Court Upholds Denaturalisation in Terrorism‑Related Case**
*Bern, 27 August 2026* – Switzerland’s Federal Administrative Court confirmed the revocation of citizenship for a naturalised Swiss national, ruling that the risk of statelessness does not preclude denaturalisation when compelling grounds exist.
The case involves a 36‑year‑old man who was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and obtained Swiss citizenship as a child. According to Swiss public broadcaster SRF, the individual was sentenced by a French court five years ago in connection with alleged support for terrorism. The French judgment formed the basis for Swiss authorities to initiate denaturalisation proceedings.
Under Swiss law, revoking citizenship requires “compelling grounds,” and support for terrorist activities is recognised as such a ground. The Federal Administrative Court’s decision clarifies that the statutory safeguard against rendering a person stateless does not automatically block the revocation of citizenship in cases where the individual is deemed to have engaged in serious offences, including terrorism.
Legal experts note that the ruling may set a precedent for future denaturalisation actions, emphasizing that the principle of preventing statelessness will be weighed against the severity of the alleged conduct. The court’s judgment does not address the individual’s current nationality status beyond confirming that the revocation is legally permissible.
The decision follows a broader European trend of scrutinising naturalised citizens’ ties to extremist activities. Swiss authorities have previously indicated that citizenship can be withdrawn when a naturalised person is found to have acted against the fundamental values of the Confederation.
No further details about the French sentencing or the specific charges were disclosed in the SRF report. The individual’s legal representatives have not commented publicly on the ruling.
Article and image source: lenews.ch
