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France, Kurdistan
Former Kurdish fundraiser tracked down by DGSI denied French citizenship

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“Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts”

France

Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

The French Ministry of the Interior regularly rejects French nationality applications from foreign nationals living in France, on the grounds that they are not "loyal" to the country. Chinese, Russian, Colombian, Kurdish and Algerian citizens have all faced rejection on this basis. The refusal is based on memos from the French domestic intelligence service (DGSI), which allege, for example, close links with a foreign intelligence service, but without giving any further details. French courts are thus becoming increasingly fussy about the content of those memos. [...]

A French administrative court has upheld the rejection of a Turkish national of Kurdish origin's application for French citizenship. Since 2017, the French domestic intelligence service and finance ministry's financial intelligence unit have been keeping a close eye on the Kurdistan Workers' Party's activism. [...]

Published on 05/05/2025 at 04:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes Franck Renaud

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“Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts”

France

Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

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France
Kurdistan
Christophe Castaner
DGSE
DGSI
Emmanuel Macron
European Union
PKK
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Tracfin
YPG

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Strategic communication veterans behind lawsuit targeting Kurdish leaders for embezzlement and murder

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France, Kurdistan, Syria
Anti-ISIS fighter contests DGSI surveillance that led to his trial for terrorism

The defence team of a former French soldier of the Kurdish YPG, who fought against the Islamic State in Syria alongside the French special forces, has filed suit against the DGSI, France's domestic intelligence agency, over its surveillance of him that led to his trial for terrorism.

Subscribers only Government Intelligence 20.11.2023

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Christophe Castaner
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France, Kurdistan
Former Kurdish fundraiser tracked down by DGSI denied French citizenship

Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

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Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

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Turkey
European security services fret over fate of foreign fighters in wake of PKK dissolution

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China, Europe, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, United States The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

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France, Kurdistan Former Kurdish fundraiser tracked down by DGSI denied French citizenship

Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

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Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

Set up email notifications for these topics

Turkey European security services fret over fate of foreign fighters in wake of PKK dissolution

France Emmanuel Macron's intelligence initiation at the finance ministry

Spotlight | France, Russia, Syria, Turkey, United States French security diplomacy in top gear for Syria's great game

Iraq, United States Strategic communication veterans behind lawsuit targeting Kurdish leaders for embezzlement and murder

France, Kurdistan, Syria Anti-ISIS fighter contests DGSI surveillance that led to his trial for terrorism

Set up email notifications for these topics

About Intelligence Online

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Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

China, Europe, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, United States
The geopolitical power plays in Earth observation

Central America, China, South America
Beijing on the offensive in Washington's spheres of influence

France
Intelligence memos and grey zones before French courts

Ukraine
Jamming wars

Armenia, Azerbaijan, France
Information wars in the Caucasus

Insiders | China
Security, propaganda and the PLA: Xi Jinping forges new networks of influence

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France, Kurdistan
Former Kurdish fundraiser tracked down by DGSI denied French citizenship

Turkey
European security services fret over fate of foreign fighters in wake of PKK dissolution

France
Emmanuel Macron's intelligence initiation at the finance ministry

Spotlight | France, Russia, Syria, Turkey, United States
French security diplomacy in top gear for Syria's great game

Iraq, United States
Strategic communication veterans behind lawsuit targeting Kurdish leaders for embezzlement and murder

France, Kurdistan, Syria
Anti-ISIS fighter contests DGSI surveillance that led to his trial for terrorism