New Cambodian law allows citizenship revocation for undermining national security
Cambodia has enacted constitutional amendments and a new nationality law allowing the government to revoke the citizenship of individuals accused of treason, collusion with foreign powers, or undermining national security.
Human rights organizations and civil society groups warn the law is a tool to suppress dissent and risks rendering citizens stateless, stripping them of all fundamental rights.
Critics note the law lacks explicit safeguards against creating statelessness, potentially impacting individuals who hold only Cambodian citizenship.
Legislative Background
Proposed by former Prime Minister and current Senate President Hun Sen in June 2025, the amendments were passed by the National Assembly and Senate in July 2025.
The "Sub-Decree on Implementing the Law on Nationality" was officially published on January 22, 2026.
Prime Minister Hun Manet defended the measures as a necessary step to protect national interests, claiming law-abiding citizens have no reason for concern.
Implications and Risks
The vague terminology regarding "national security" provides the government with wide discretion to target activists, political rivals, and critics.
Stripping citizenship carries severe consequences, including the loss of rights to own land, access healthcare and education, work, marry, and travel.
Over 50 civil society organizations expressed concern that the law could be used to institutionalize statelessness, violating international legal standards.
Judicial and Political Context
Rights groups argue that Cambodia’s judicial system lacks the independence necessary to prevent the weaponization of these laws against political opponents.
The law is seen as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent, following the closure of media outlets and the imprisonment of environmental activists, such as those from Mother Nature.
Observers note that with rising border tensions with Thailand, the ruling party is consolidating control by criminalizing political opposition under the guise of nationalism.