German citizens who have fought for a terrorist organization like ISIS are to lose their citizenship, provided that they have another.
"This will primarily have a deterrent effect on ISIS supporters intending to travel to ISIS regions," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Wednesday.
The law passed by the cabinet in Berlin will not be retroactive and will not apply to minors. In addition, Germany will not take action to render anyone stateless.
The law needs parliamentary approval.
Nothing will thus change for German citizens who are suspected ISIS supporters and are currently being held in Syria or Iraq.
Militants currently abroad who participate in combat operations after the law goes into effect could be affected.
The draft law defines a terrorist militia as "an armed group organized in a paramilitary way that pursues the aim of destroying by force the structures of a foreign state contrary to international law and to establish instead new state or state-like structures."
Whereas countries like Britain and Australia have long enforced similar legislation, agreement has been delayed in Germany by differences within the ruling coalition.
Also Wednesday, the German Interior Ministry said arrest warrants have been issued against 21 Germans, who have been arrested by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, on accusations of fighting for ISIS.
