PARIS
French lawmakers approved a travel ban on French nationals Wednesday suspected of going to fight in countries such as Syria or Iraq as part of a new "anti-terrorism" bill.
The law, submitted by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve in July, aims to deter French nationals from traveling to join groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, which has overrun large territories of both countries.
The ban, which is effective for at least six months and is renewable for up to two years, allows authorities to immediately confiscate the passport and identity card of a suspect. They will also have their names placed on the Schengen Information System used by European countries and transport companies and face up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine.
The ban can be imposed on French nationals when "there are serious reasons to believe that someone is planning to travel abroad to take part in terrorist activities, war crimes or crimes against humanity or in a theatre of operations of terrorist groups and in conditions likely to jeopardize public security upon their return to French territory" the law reads.
Cazeneuve told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper last week that 930 French nationals had gone to Syria or Iraq to fight with militant groups.
He said: "350 are on the ground, including 60 women, 180 have departed from Syria and 170 are in transit to the area."
The minister also said that 36 French nationals had died during the fighting in Syria and Iraq.
To prevent such nationals joining extremist groups, the Interior Ministry launched a telephone hotline in April for families to alert authorities for "signs of Islamic radicalism".
The bill, which also advocates targeting terrorism on the internet, is expected to be voted in later Wednesday.
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