UN Secretary-General stated that such inequality must be assessed in light of the severe impact of statelessness in terms of enjoyment of human rights.20 Finally, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the right to nationality is increasingly infringed upon under the pretext of countering terrorism. The practice of depriving individuals of their nationality, particularly dual nationals, has become more prevalent amid concerns over terrorism associated with foreign fighters. Furthermore, some states permit the deprivation of nationality for mono-nationals in the context of counterterrorism, thereby rendering them stateless. 21 However, it is crucial to emphasise that the international standards governing the loss or deprivation of nationality applies in all contexts, including in the context of countering terrorism.22 2.2 Domestic legal framework In the UAE, the main law governing citizenship is the Federal Law No. 17 from 1972 concerning Nationality, Passports and Amendments thereof (hereinafter “Law on Nationality”).23 Articles 15 and 16 of the law outline the conditions under which the citizenship of an individual can be revoked, making a distinction between individuals that were naturalised Emirati citizens and individuals that were not. Article (15): Nationality of the country shall be lost from any person enjoying such nationality in the following cases: A. If he engages in military service for any foreign country without permission and refuses to abandon such services when requested to do so. B. If he works for the interest of an enemy country. C. If he has adopted, voluntarily, a nationality of another country. Article (16): Nationality shall be withdrawn from a person who has acquired the nationality by naturalisation in the following cases: 1. If he commits or attempts to commit an action which is deemed dangerous for the security or safety of the country. 2. If he has been punished repeatedly for crimes of dishonour. 3. If the date upon which the nationality has been granted were proofed to be forged, fraud or containing deception. 4. If he resides outside the country without reasons for a period exceeding four years. If nationality is withdrawn from a person, it may be accordingly withdrawn from his wife and under-aged children. Ibid, para. 6. UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force, Guidance to States on human rights-compliant responses to the threat posed by foreign fighters, 2018, para. 40, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/newyork/Documents/Human-Rights-Responses-to-ForeignFighters-web_final.pdf (accessed on 30 April 2024). 22 Shamima Begum Third Party Intervention at the UK Court of Appeals, 29 May 2020, https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Terrorism/SR/2020_05_29_FINAL_Begum _Intervention.pdf (accessed on 30 April 2024). 23 A copy of this law can be found on the following link: https://menarights.org/sites/default/files/201611/UAE_NationalityLaw_EN.pdf (accessed on 1 May 2024). 20 21 8 Citizenship stripping in the UAE