Cambodia Moves to Strip Citizenship from Political Dissidents Sparking Global Concern
In a deeply concerning move, Cambodia’s National Assembly unanimously passed a new law on Monday that allows the government to strip citizenship from individuals accused of colluding with foreign powers—a decision raising alarm among human rights advocates around the world.
All 120 lawmakers present, including Prime Minister Hun Manet, voted in favor of the bill. The legislation has yet to pass through the Senate and receive approval from the head of state, but both steps are widely viewed as formalities in Cambodia’s tightly controlled political system.
For many Cambodians, this development is more than just a change in the legal code—it’s a chilling signal that speaking out could come at the cost of their very identity.
A Blow to Free Speech and Democracy
Critics warn that the law is dangerously vague and open to abuse. A coalition of 50 human rights organizations released a joint statement Sunday, warning that the legislation “will have a disastrously chilling effect on the freedom of speech of all Cambodian citizens.”
“The potential for abuse is simply too high,” the coalition stated. “This law could be used to silence people for their ethnicity, political views, or activism. Governments should not be given unchecked power to decide who deserves to be a citizen.”
The legislation comes after lawmakers amended the Cambodian constitution last month, removing the once-enshrined unconditional right to Khmer citizenship. Now, the granting or revocation of nationality will be “determined by law”—a phrase that many fear grants the government sweeping discretion.
“If you betray the nation, the nation will not keep you,” said Justice Minister Koeut Rith, defending the measure.
But human rights groups, including Amnesty International, see it differently. The organization condemned the bill as a “heinous violation of international law,” pointing to Cambodia’s compromised judicial system as a key concern.
“This law will not be applied fairly or transparently,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty’s regional research director. “It will only deepen the government’s authoritarian grip and further endanger opposition voices, activists, and independent journalists.”
A Pattern of Suppression
The law arrives amidst an ongoing crackdown on dissent. Opposition leader Kem Sokha remains under house arrest after being sentenced to 27 years for treason in 2023—a charge he denies. Countless other activists and political opponents have faced prison time or legal harassment for challenging the government’s narrative.
For Cambodians who dare to question authority, the risk is no longer just imprisonment—it could mean the loss of nationality, identity, and home.