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British jihadists who fight in Syria are having their citizenship stripped to prevent their return to the UK.

Home Secretary Theresa May has revoked the passports of 20 people this year - more than in her previous two-and-half-years combined.

The measure has been used against 37 people with dual nationality since May 2010, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

But human rights campaigners say it could put individuals at risk of torture and abuse overseas.

A former Foreign Office official said the move to step up the practice against British nationals fighting in Syria was an "open secret".

Security services are concerned that Syrian jihadists are bringing violent extremism back to the UK.

A British man was last month reported to have been killed fighting Bashar al-Assad's regime - thought to be the second fatality of a UK national.

There are estimated to be around 200 British-born fighters in Syria.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The government will take all necessary steps to protect the public.

"Citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and the Home Secretary will remove British citizenship from individuals where she feels it is conducive to the public good to do so."