The Digester

Canada seeks to revoke citizenship of man accused in 2008 Mumbai attack

Feb 24th 2026

Immigration officials say Tahawwur Rana Hussain misrepresented his residence on a 2000 citizenship application; he is in Indian custody awaiting trial on charges tied to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

  • IRCC has notified Hussain it intends to revoke his Canadian citizenship for misrepresenting his residence during the citizenship application period.
  • An RCMP probe found he spent most of the relevant time in Chicago, not in Ottawa or Toronto as his application stated.
  • Hussain became a Canadian citizen in 2001 after immigrating in 1997 and is currently detained in India facing charges of facilitating the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
  • He was previously convicted in the United States for plotting attacks on staff of a Danish newspaper and for providing material support to Lashkar e Tayyiba.
  • The government has referred the revocation to Federal Court, which will decide whether his citizenship was obtained by false representation.
  • If the court approves revocation he would retain permanent resident status and could reapply for citizenship after ten years.
  • The case is unfolding alongside diplomatic tensions with India and follows Hussain's 2025 extradition from the United States to India.