“ I never asked to be Moroccan”: France revokes his nationality
A man stripped of his French nationality contested that he was still Moroccan. He claimed that he had never requested that nationality, had always lived in France, and possessed no Moroccan identity documents. The Council of State has now ruled.
The case dates back to November 2024. By decree, France had revoked this man’s French nationality, which he had acquired by declaration on 22 June 2011.
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He had previously been sentenced in December 2018 by the Paris Court of Appeal to five years in prison for participating in a criminal association with a view to preparing a terrorist act.
To challenge the revocation of his nationality, the individual argued in particular that it could render him stateless. His argument was that he had “never applied for Moroccan nationality,” had always lived in France, and had no Moroccan identity documents.
The Council of State did not accept this reasoning. In its decision issued on 2 July 2026, the highest administrative court found that the case file showed that the man did indeed possess Moroccan nationality when he acquired French nationality.
Above all, he had not demonstrated that the Moroccan authorities had since ceased to consider him one of their nationals. For the judges, the revocation therefore does not make him stateless.
The Council of State upholds the revocation
The man also challenged the proportionality of the sanction. He invoked his young age and immaturity at the time of the events, as well as his subsequent conduct.
The Council of State nevertheless noted that he had shown a “sustained and persistent” interest in jihadist ideology, taken part in disseminating propaganda, and prepared with another person to leave for a territory then controlled by Daesh.
Given the seriousness of the facts, the judges considered that the revocation of French nationality was legally justified.
The court nevertheless specified that revocation of nationality does not, in itself, entail expulsion from France. It has no automatic effect on the individual’s right to remain in the country or on his ties with his family.
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His appeal was ultimately dismissed. He therefore remains deprived of French nationality, while the French justice system continues to consider him a Moroccan national.
