Australian government cancelled citizenship of man on death row in Iraq

Ahmad Merhi travelled from Sydney to Syria in 2014 and was accused of joining Islamic State. After being captured and transferred by US forces to Iraq in, Merhi says he was coerced into confessing to terrorism charges and was sentenced to death by hanging in 2018. After his sentencing, the Australian government cancelled his citizenship, leaving him stateless. 

The High Court has recently found in favour of a Turkish citizen whose Australian citizenship was cancelled after he was found to have joined Islamic State. The court found that the citizen stripping powers involved the minister exercising an exclusive judicial function of judging criminal guilt, thereby acting in breach of the separation of powers. 

In the context of this decision, and Australia’s obligations under international human rights law, Merhi’s family and legal team remain hopeful, and are urging the Albanese government to overturn the cancellation. Read more here.