France is pushing ahead with controversial plans to strip dual citizens of their French nationality in terrorism cases.
It comes after a deadly wave of attacks in and around Paris this year, with the French prime minister declaring a war against what he calls radical Islam.
Omar Dabbagh has more.
France remains on high alert following what has been described as "a year of terror" for the country.
From the Charlie Hebdo attacks in January to the November massacre that left 130 people dead, the city of Paris has been a constant target in 2015.
The French government has been hardening its position towards those responsible for such acts, and, now, it has initiated the next, major step.
Dual citizens born in France and found guilty of terrorism offences would be stripped of their French nationality under tough new measures tabled to parliament.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls says it is a necessary, albeit tough, step to take.
(Translated)"It's a heavy sanction which our nation can legitimately impose on someone who would have betrayed it in the worst possible way. Blind killing of fellow citizens in the name of an ideology is a bloody, total and definitive denial of any will to live together without distinction between origins or faith. So, it amounts to denying the soul of our nation."
Currently, only naturalised citizens can be stripped of their French citizenship.
The proposed amendment to the constitution is likely to face stiff opposition when it goes before parliament in February.
Divisions have already emerged between parties and within the ruling Socialist Party itself.
France's justice minister, Christine Taubira, initally opposed the changes, telling an Algerian radio station it would not help the fight in any way.
But she has shown she is now sticking to the Government's position, appearing with Prime Minister Valls on stage as he announced the bill.
The Prime Minister has defended the bill, saying it will be strictly limited to people convicted on terrorism charges and would be used after they had served their sentences.
(Translated)"By no means will the revocation enable perpetrators of a terrorist crime to escape justice. They will be charged and sentenced in France. And it is only at the end of their sentence that, having lost their citizenship, they could be expelled from the country."
A three-month long state of emergency is continuing in France as authorities try to clamp down on would-be militants and protect the country's citizens.
Manuel Valls says France is in a war against terrorism and must take special measures.
(Translated)"Our obligation for truth is to repeat that the threat has never been higher. Our obligation for truth is to say that we are faced with a war -- a war against terrorism, against jihadism, against radical Islam."
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