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The government has begun the process of revoking the citizenship of an Iranian-Canadian serving a prison sentence in Edmonton for terrorism, according to sources familiar with the case.

Hiva Alizadeh is the first Canadian to be targeted by a law that allows Ottawa to strip the citizenship from Canadians convicted of terrorist offences, provided they are citizens elsewhere.

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The legislation came into force on May 29. As a citizen of both Canada and Iran, Alizadeh appears to be a viable candidate. Should his Canadian citizenship be revoked, he would be deported.

Under the new system, Alizadeh has 60 days to respond to the written notice he has received from the government, which depicts the law as a response to the evolving terrorist threat to Canada.

“We have been clear: Canadian citizenship is a privilege that carries both rights and responsibilities,” said Kevin Menard, the spokesman for Citizenship & Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, when asked about Alizadeh.