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Berlin State Office for Immigration: Can naturalization be revoked due to a social media post?

Man in front of PC

A recent case in Berlin is making headlines: A young man who came to Germany as a preschooler received German citizenship after years of residence – but just one day later, he posted a picture on Instagram celebrating Hamas fighters as "heroes ." The State Office for Immigration (LEA) reacted immediately and is now considering revoking his German citizenship.


This case demonstrates how seriously the naturalization authorities are taking the new rules. Since June 2024, those seeking naturalization have been required to submit a declaration affirming their recognition of the free and democratic basic order and the protection of Jewish life . The man had submitted this declaration, but his social media activity clearly contradicted this commitment.


Deception during naturalization as a legal basis

From the immigration authorities' perspective, the man's behavior constitutes the criminal offense of fraud in the naturalization process . After being confronted about his actions, he offered no response. The official notice revoking his naturalization will now be sent to his lawyer. Should the decision become legally binding, the man will lose his German citizenship. The relevant authority would confiscate his passport, and his registration data would also have to be updated. The legal consequences extend far beyond the mere loss of his passport. Whether the man will be allowed to remain in Germany depends, among other things, on his personal circumstances (see our VISAGUARD article on naturalization and the residency of former German citizens ).


Political reactions and their significance for naturalizations

Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner praised the authorities' decisive action. He emphasized that the commitment to the free and democratic basic order is not a mere formality in naturalization proceedings and that attempts at deception have serious consequences. At the same time, the case offers insight into the legal processes surrounding naturalization. The individual concerned can appeal the decision, and if necessary, the Berlin Administrative Court would have to rule on the matter. The case underscores that naturalization is not merely a bureaucratic act, but also requires responsibility and a willingness to integrate.


Legal assessment of naturalization, revocation, Hamas social media

From a legal perspective, the Berlin case is a relatively clear application of the regulations concerning deception in naturalization proceedings . A social media post can serve as very clear evidence in this case . While it can generally be argued that the account holder is not necessarily the person who posted the content, this argument is rarely accepted by judges . This is therefore a typical case in which the authorities can act on sound legal grounds: the deception is documented, and the evidence via publicly accessible content (or screenshots thereof) is easily verifiable.


The publication, which celebrates Hamas fighters as "heroes," immediately reveals that the individual in question does not recognize the free and democratic order ( declaration of loyalty ) or the commitment to Israel . The new naturalization rules regarding the declaration of loyalty were intended to prevent precisely this situation by requiring applicants for naturalization to make an explicit declaration of support for Israel and the protection of Jewish life. Therefore, the case of the Syrian man who celebrates Hamas on social media is likely a case for revocation, and one that could be successful.


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