UK-born Islamic State recruit can return from Syria to challenge citizenship removal

By Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout

 

FILE PHOTO: Renu Begum, sister of teenage British girl Shamima Begum, holds a photo of her sister as she makes an appeal for her to return home at Scotland Yard, in London, Britain February 22, 2015. REUTERS/Laura Lean/Pool/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - A British-born woman who went to Syria as a schoolgirl to join Islamic State can return to Britain to challenge the government's removal of her citizenship, judges ruled on Thursday.

 

Shamima Begum, who was born to Bangladeshi parents, left London in 2015 when she was 15 and went to Syria via Turkey with two schoolfriends. In Syria, she married an Islamic State fighter and lived in the capital of the self-declared caliphate.

 

She was discovered in 2019 in a detention camp in Syria, where three of her children died. Britain stripped her of citizenship on security grounds as its domestic intelligence agency considered her a security threat.

 

But three judges from England's Court of Appeal unanimously agreed Begum could have a fair and effective appeal of that decision only if she were permitted to come back to Britain.

 

"Fairness and justice must, on the facts of this case, outweigh the national security concerns," judge Julian Flaux wrote in a ruling. "I consider that Ms Begum’s claim for judicial review of the decision of SIAC (Special Immigration Appeals Commission)... succeeds."

 

The judge said that if Begum, who is now 20, was considered a security threat, and if there was sufficient evidence, she could be arrested on her return to Britain.

 

Begum angered many Britons by appearing unrepentant about seeing severed heads and saying a suicide attack that killed 22 people in the English city of Manchester in 2017 was justified.

 

She had pleaded to be repatriated to rejoin her family in London and said she was not a threat.

 

Britain's interior ministry said the court's decision was "very disappointing" and that it would apply for permission to appeal against it.

 

"The government’s top priority remains maintaining our national security and keeping the public safe," an interior ministry spokeswoman said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-07-17

 

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Disgusting, should be shot, ISIS traitor.

I read just now that she actually got legal aid to appeal her case at the UK Court of Appeal.  Quite how she managed to get this aid when no longer a British citizen is beyond me......

Hope they remember who the judge was, and who the liberals pushing for this grotesque repatriation order were. Another sad day for UK race relations. If it weren't enough our navy and coast guards daily chauffering all those dingies full of foreign military age males illegally into the UK, (from the safe country France). we are now actively flying them in from their battefields abroad. I give up all hope for the future of the UK.

3 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I read just now that she actually got legal aid to appeal her case at the UK Court of Appeal.  Quite how she managed to get this aid when no longer a British citizen is beyond me......

Various funded human rights organisations have backed her. Appeals have been overthrown befor, so an appeal to overthrow this appeal is in the making. UK is a soft touch but not stupid...she's not going anywhere

15 minutes ago, baansgr said:

Various funded human rights organisations have backed her. Appeals have been overthrown befor, so an appeal to overthrow this appeal is in the making. UK is a soft touch but not stupid...she's not going anywhere

I don't think Bangladesh wanted her either, that's pretty bad if one of the poorest countries in the world doesn't want you lol.

And I suppose the UK government will charter a private jet to bring her to London ? And put her up in a nice hotel ?

4 minutes ago, jaiyen said:

And I suppose the UK government will charter a private jet to bring her to London ? And put her up in a nice hotel ?

No but Liberty will

36 minutes ago, colinneil said:

What is the UK coming to?

 

Judges allowing a terrorist back into the country, bloody fools, they should be shot themselves for their stupidity.

The comment raising some interesting issues. So far as I know the person has not yet been sentenced for terrorism nor is she a citizen of a third country i.e. Bangladesh. Is it not the responsibility of HMG to ensure the individual is returned to the UK to face justice for supporting an Islamist terror group.

13 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

I don't think Bangladesh wanted her either, that's pretty bad if one of the poorest countries in the world doesn't want you lol.

She's not a Bangladeshi citizen.

1 minute ago, simple1 said:

She's not a Bangladeshi citizen.

Her father is and resides there.

 

2 minutes ago, simple1 said:

The comment raising some interesting issues. So far as I know the person has not yet been sentenced for terrorism nor is she a citizen of a third country i.e. Bangladesh. Is it not the responsibility of HMG to ensure the individual is returned to the UK to face justice for supporting an Islamist terror group.

No, she made her choice to join a terrorist group and marry an ISIS fighter. She deserves nothing.

Just now, tribalfusion001 said:

Her father is and resides there. <SNIP>

 

irrelevant, to repeat she is not a Bangladeshi citizen.

58 minutes ago, colinneil said:

What is the UK coming to?

 

Judges allowing a terrorist back into the country, bloody fools, they should be shot themselves for their stupidity.

 

51 minutes ago, tribalfusion001 said:

It's cr*p hole that I've got to endure until I can get out again. There are some normal people, but plenty of freaks who are scared of their own shadow. This takes biscuit, ISIS scum and the judges think it's ok to let her back. She can go to Bangladesh where her father lives, but hey, who in their right mind would want to live there 555

That's what happens when laws not properly vetted are introduced or applied.

 

The judges are there to uphold the law.

45 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Looks like this will be one for the vigilantes. Hope they remember who the judge was, and who the liberals pushing for this grotesque repatriation order were. Another sad day for UK race relations. If it weren't enough our navy and coast guards daily chauffering all those dingies full of foreign military age males illegally into the UK, (from the safe country France). we are now actively flying them in from their battefields abroad. I give up all hope for the future of the UK.

Not 'the judge's, but plural. Why is it important who the judges are, they're only upholding the law. 

8 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Not 'the judge's, but plural. Why is it important who the judges are, they're only upholding the law. 

I will take a wild guess that you were not the father of one of the little girls blown apart by the Islamic bomber(who was also "rescued" by the UK from Libya) at the Arianne Grande kiddies concert in Manchester. When your "law" fails so spectacularly that we are forced to actively import enemy combatants who's goal in life is to maim and kill as many Brits as is possible there is trouble ahead. It is important to know who these judges are, because after millions of Brits made very clear it is an outrage to bring this beast back to Britain, we need accountability when it all goes pear shaped - which it will. She will be an icon to the Tower Hamlets and East Midlands lot. She will inspire a whole new generation of muslims to admire and learn terror. The judges here will have to be accountable seeing as Ms Begum freely admits she wants death to Brits.

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I will take a wild guess that you were not the father of one of the little girls blown apart by the Islamic bomber(who was also "rescued" by the UK from Libya) at the Arianne Grande kiddies concert in Manchester. When your "law" fails so spectacularly that we are forced to actively import enemy combatants who's goal in life is to maim and kill as many Brits as is possible there is trouble ahead. It is important to know who these judges are, because after millions of Brits made very clear it is an outrage to bring this beast back to Britain, we need accountability when it all goes pear shaped - which it will. She will be an icon to the Tower Hamlets and East Midlands lot. She will inspire a whole new generation of muslims to admire and learn terror. The judges here will have to be accountable seeing as Ms Begum freely admits she wants death to Brits.

I will take a wild guess and say you do not like law and order.

4 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I will take a wild guess that you were not the father of one of the little girls blown apart by the Islamic bomber(who was also "rescued" by the UK from Libya) at the Arianne Grande kiddies concert in Manchester. When your "law" fails so spectacularly that we are forced to actively import enemy combatants who's goal in life is to maim and kill as many Brits as is possible there is trouble ahead. It is important to know who these judges are, because after millions of Brits made very clear it is an outrage to bring this beast back to Britain, we need accountability when it all goes pear shaped - which it will. She will be an icon to the Tower Hamlets and East Midlands lot. She will inspire a whole new generation of muslims to admire and learn terror. The judges here will have to be accountable seeing as Ms Begum freely admits she wants death to Brits.

The decision to strip her of British citizenship was taken under tremendous public outrage over her. And that outrage was understandable and justified. But that does not make the decision justified, especially since she could not appeal it.

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

I will take a wild guess and say you do not like law and order.

Importing terrorists back into our country makes for "law and order"? I would make a wild guess here and suggest that he does like "law and order".

39 minutes ago, simple1 said:

The comment raising some interesting issues. So far as I know the person has not yet been sentenced for terrorism nor is she a citizen of a third country i.e. Bangladesh. Is it not the responsibility of HMG to ensure the individual is returned to the UK to face justice for supporting an Islamist terror group.

we should respect her culture and religious beliefs- try her under sharia law that she loves as a traitor and enemy combatant, then give her the punishment, which would be death.

4 minutes ago, Sujo said:

I will take a wild guess and say you do not like law and order.

Certainly not. The member advocates domestic terrorism / vigilantism. One would guess the member would possibly come under review by HMG if he were resident in the UK. 

 

"Looks like this will be one for the vigilantes. Hope they remember who the judge was, and who the liberals pushing for this grotesque repatriation order were"

hi guys, how do I apply for UK citizenship?

2 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

we should respect her culture and religious beliefs- try her under sharia law that she loves as a traitor and enemy combatant, then give her the punishment, which would be death.

So you're advocating Sharia law for the UK - lol

6 minutes ago, vogie said:

Importing terrorists back into our country makes for "law and order"? I would make a wild guess here and suggest that he does like "law and order".

Apparently not, since he is unhappy with the law being upheld.

9 minutes ago, Pravda said:

hi guys, how do I apply for UK citizenship?

 

 

Just roll up........ it seems that is what most economic migrants do 

15 minutes ago, vogie said:

Importing terrorists back into our country makes for "law and order"? I would make a wild guess here and suggest that he does like "law and order".

No, the girl also has the right to law and order. Or is law and order only for decisions you like.

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Looks like this will be one for the vigilantes. Hope they remember who the judge was, and who the liberals pushing for this grotesque repatriation order were. Another sad day for UK race relations.

Obscene call for violence against a UK judge and people you don’t agree with.

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

I read just now that she actually got legal aid to appeal her case at the UK Court of Appeal.  Quite how she managed to get this aid when no longer a British citizen is beyond me......

Because her appeal has been accepted by an English court.

10 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Apparently not, since he is unhappy with the law being upheld.

I will make another wild guess and suggest that most of our country is againgst this law being upheld, but being pragmatic doesn't fit all I suppose.

This is not only UK.

 

Similar court rulings are made in several other Western countries.

 

In my country a court even ruled that the government has to pay a huge penalty for every day they fail to repatriate them

2 hours ago, tribalfusion001 said:

Disgusting, should be shot, ISIS traitor.

Putting aside she was a captured prisoner of war and hence shooting her would have been a war crime, in what twist of logic can she be a traitor if she is not a citizen?