Egyptian man unceremoniously stripped of American citizenship by the US government

CAIRO - 23 April 2017: Controversy erupted this week as Egyptian-born Khaled Abu al-Dahab was stripped of his American citizenship; an event that brought into consideration al-Dahab’s checkered past, according to American news outlets.

Al-Dahab had been linked to terrorist organizations that were operating in his native homeland of Egypt. He actually confessed his affiliations with the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EJI). The affiliation is exceedingly problematic considering that EJI was classified as a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 2001.

Despite such incendiary links what officially cost Abu al-Dahab his American citizenship was his lying and withholding vital information during his citizenship application interview. The disinformation pertained to his marital status among other inconsistencies that aroused the alarm of U.S. officials. This coupled with lying about his travel history spurred U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell to start an inquisition that culminated in revoking Abu al-Dahab of his U.S. citizenship while Abu al-Dahab was in Egypt.

According to court transcripts, Howell did not dwell on Abu al-Dahab’s previous terrorism links, but rather emphasized Abu al-Dahab’s mendacity in the citizenship application process with regard to his marital statuses (Abu al-Dahab is thrice married) and travel histories. Abu al-Dahab’s untruthfulness would render his U.S. citizenship null as a result.

Whether Abu-Dahab’s previous Jihadist links is the prime cause for his citizen revocation is a matter of speculation. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has commented on the case emphatically expressing his vigilant terrorism-probing stance. “This case demonstrates the Department’s commitment to using all tools at its disposal, both criminally and civilly, to strategically enforce our nation’s immigration laws and to disrupt international terrorism,” Howell stated.