UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists

[webfact]

UK police: Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists
By JILL LAWLESS

LONDON (AP) — Three British schoolgirls who traveled to Syria to join the Islamic State group won't be prosecuted for terrorism if they return, a senior British police officer said Tuesday.

Police chiefs also defended their handling of the case, denying a lawmaker's allegation that the failure to stop the teens was "a huge blow" to the credibility of the force.

Mark Rowley, head of counterterrorism for the Metropolitan Police, told lawmakers that "we have no evidence to support (the teens') involvement in terrorism."

The journey of the three 15- and 16-year-olds last month shocked many in Britain, left their families bewildered and highlighted the difficulty of halting the radicalization of young Muslims. Relatives say police failed to inform them that a school friend of the teens had gone to Syria in December. They say if they had they known, they would have looked for any warning signals of radicalization.

They also accused the police of not acting quickly enough once they reported the girls missing.

"I feel so let down by the police, because we gave them everything," said Sahima Begum, sister of one of the girls. "We gave them every piece of information."

The girls' relatives and senior police officers appeared before Parliament's Home Affairs Committee Tuesday as it tried to understand how three apparently smart teenagers from east London developed the desire, and the means, to travel to a region controlled by the bloodthirsty militant group.

Sahima Begum said her sister Shamima "was into normal teenage things. She used to watch 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' and things like that."

But police say the girls were being radicalized, unbeknownst to their parents. One followed many extremists on social media. Shamima Begum stole her older sister's passport and used it to travel to Turkey, and Rowley said the trio bought their plane tickets with more than 1,000 pounds ($1,500) in cash, obtained by stealing jewelry from one of the families.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz suggested the failure to stop the girls from reaching Syria was "a huge blow to the credibility" of the Metropolitan Police. But Rowley said it was unrealistic to expect police to spot and stop radicalization "if the parents can't see changes in behavior ... if people in the community don't spot it."

The families of Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase are angry that they were not informed that police had spoken to their daughters shortly after their friend disappeared in December. Police interviewed the girls a second time in February and gave them letters to hand to their parents saying that police had spoken to the girls about their missing friend. The letters were not passed on.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said he was sorry for what the families were going through and sorry they had not received the letter, but said there "was nothing more we could have done to prevent" the three girls from leaving.

Rowley said the flow of young Britons to Syria continued, with up to 700 known to have gone to join militant groups.

"That's a minimum," he said.

Britain's police and intelligence services have also been criticized for allowing Mohammed Emwazi, who has been identified as the Islamic State militant known as "Jihadi John," to slip through their net and travel to Syria, even though he had been on their radar for years.

But Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Tuesday that "the dedication, and in many cases the brilliance, of our intelligence officers" had kept Britain safe in the face of myriad threats, from state-sponsored aggression to terrorist groups and lone-wolf attackers.

He rejected allegations by the Muslim advocacy organization CAGE that heavy-handed attention from British spies helped radicalize Emwazi.

"The responsibility for acts of terror rests with those who commit them. But a huge burden of responsibility also lies with those who act as apologists for them," Hammond said.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-03-11

[Credo]

These parents 'feel let down by the police'? Unbelievable. Do they not have any idea what there kids are up to. Do they expect the gov't to keep an eye on their children for them?

I do feel for these parents that I am sure are very distraught by this whole episode, but given the sort of efforts that Muslim's go to to protect the women, how these girls got their passports and on an airplane is difficult to believe.

[NongKhaiKid]

Some of the media in Britain are being roundly criticised for overplaying the ' sob story ' aspect and the girls' families are blaming everyone except themselves. So much for the supposed overly strict Moslem family life that Dopey Dave Cameron and others have said we can all learn from.

[redandyellow]

Did they do it yet?

They aren't terrorists?

If helping to facilitate the next generation of ISIS fighters, through a smooth entry at the Syrian border and otherwise, then I guess they aren't terrorists.

But for irrefutable, empirical, statistical proof that they are or they aren't, perhaps we should wait nine months and a day, to see if the young women "walked" the talk with their new-found, eager-beaver ISIS boyfriends..

Signed,

The Conundrum

[canuckamuck]

I am certain they are already paying for their mistake.

[Choctastic]

Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism for the Metropolitan Police, told lawmakers that "we have no evidence to support (the teens') involvement in terrorism."

Nobody told the media Fear Factory and Thai Visa 'terrorism experts'.

[surfinglife]

It's a relief to know that aiding and abetting is no loner a crime

[Old Croc]

Perhaps not terrorists, but I'm sure they're concubines for terrorists.

[siampolee]

"The responsibility for acts of terror rests with those who commit them. But a huge burden of responsibility also lies with those who act as apologists for them," Hammond said.

And to add further to the above quote,

The parents were and are at fault as are their cultural instructors for not actually seeing or even wanting to understand what course those children were following.

Do not blame the police or the security service ,look to the community and its bias to those who refuse to integrate, socially and religiously.

The culture in which these children and their families live in and moved in is the culprit.

[H1w4yR1da]

Here's hoping those 'innocent' girls, along with 'beautiful person' Jihadi John get a drone up the ass.

[useronthenet]

These immigrants that came to Britain failed to intergrate into mainstream society, admittedly there seems to be no mechanism in place to ensure all foreigners adopt the values of the hosting country. Instead, they are still living a life disclocated from 'British life', and their parents are to blame, and the system which panders to the rights of minorities.

Personally, I believe a constitution should be drafted, where every immigrant would have to subscribe to an oath of allegence to their country, regardless of religion, colour or creed. If they don't, then they have no place in that country, and they should be deported back to their origin. You might have a British passport, but that does not make you British.

Perhaps they could take a leaf out of Thailand's book, since getting a citizenship here is a very hard task. Being born here, does not entitle you to a Thai nationality.

[NongKhaiKid]

Mark Rowley, head of counter-terrorism for the Metropolitan Police, told lawmakers that "we have no evidence to support (the teens') involvement in terrorism."

Nobody told the media Fear Factory and Thai Visa 'terrorism experts'.

Does Rowley know what they're actually doing now they're in Syria ? They may regret what they've done, they may be forced, persuaded or willing to participate in some form of terrorism.

Maybe they'll just be dutiful jihadi brides waiting at home for their hubby to come home after a hard day's IS work with a nice meal then they can clean his guns while he eats and later the important role of making a new generation of potential fighters.

Even if they return home will the truth ever be known and no its more than likely they'll spin the yarn best suited for them, their family and for public consumption.

[klauskunkel]

Schoolgirls who went to Syria are not terrorists

Of course they are not terrorists. They are now playthings for terrorists.

[siampolee]

Personally I do think these girls will ever return to the U.K.

They have a limited lifespan once they are past their sell by date due to sexually transmitted diseases or slavery they are future carrion.

One does hope that their parents and the closeted society they existed in feel the pain of their inaction's due to their misguided mentoring and the result that has led to the sending of these girls to a horrific future of sexual and slavery bondage

[cosmosis]

As an Englishman although I abhor the unwillingness of immigrants to integrate into British society, I must take issue with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's statement:

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said he was sorry for what the families were going through and sorry they had not received the letter, but said there "was nothing more we could have done to prevent" the three girls from leaving.

Perhaps, if the police had given the warning letters directly to the parents, the parents may possibly have been better prepared to prevent their offspring from departing. It would seem to me irresponsible for the police to have given the letters to the girls (still legally classified as minors) to give to their parents. DUH !

Furthermore, to avow in advance of their return these girls will not be treated as returning terrorists is foolish in the extreme. They may well either return as severely traumatised PTSD basket-cases OR possibly dyed in the wool extremists. The likelihood of their not being affected, for bad or worse, by their experiences are very slim.

Edited March 11, 2015 by cosmosis

[Baerboxer]

These immigrants that came to Britain failed to intergrate into mainstream society, admittedly there seems to be no mechanism in place to ensure all foreigners adopt the values of the hosting country. Instead, they are still living a life disclocated from 'British life', and their parents are to blame, and the system which panders to the rights of minorities.

Personally, I believe a constitution should be drafted, where every immigrant would have to subscribe to an oath of allegence to their country, regardless of religion, colour or creed. If they don't, then they have no place in that country, and they should be deported back to their origin. You might have a British passport, but that does not make you British.

Perhaps they could take a leaf out of Thailand's book, since getting a citizenship here is a very hard task. Being born here, does not entitle you to a Thai nationality.

I don't disagree with your sentiments.

However. Getting British citizenship isn't easy. Being born in Britain does not mean you are automatically entitled to British citizenship. You must be a British citizen to obtain a British passport. To become a British citizen the final part involves a ceremony where you do give an oath, and have previously met all requirements including passing language and British citizen knowledge tests.

There is a problem for sure with young Moslems, born in Britain to British parents and British grandparents who now see themselves more aligned to Islam and the nations where their ancestors came from. That is usually Pakistan and Bangladesh. A lot of the issues in the younger, say 12 - 16 year old, IME, was a total lack of parental control, discipline or encouragement to be British in their home life. Not all British Moslems are like this, but a growing number of young people in working class areas are.

[manarak]

It is a good thing they aren't considered terrorists.

I strongly associate terrorism with killing innocent people.

The girls are just guilty of treason and should be considered traitors and enemy fighters, not terrorists.

The families' statements that they feel "let down" is indeed startling - one would guess they should be much more aware of what their kids are up to rather than the police!

But then, the mindset of personal responsibility has never been a strength of Southern European and Northern African populations - they always look for people to blame except themselves.

[tgeezer]

These kids are by the 'laisser-faire' standards of the day, not stupid, and again by the standards of the day are mini-adults with all the rights that confers, why would anyone question their right to do as they please?

Everyday we hear of mini-adults regretting their actions, druggies, single mums, wilful girls looking for sweets ,fags, and a tele to watch, get more than they bargained for then complain about it.

We have to respect their decision. Whatever role they fulfil; wife or comfort woman, if they want to complain then they are in the wrong place, tough luck.

Let's not agonise over imagined problems they are gone let's forget them. However If they should turn up again, they should be approached with caution, they could explode!

[Johnny S]

Helping terrorists is being a terrorist - this imbecille culture will always blame others for their sick behaviour, its like that everywhere - Amazing how Europe have taken these terrorists into their own "house", what a stupidity but they will pay for it Again and Again and Again ....

[trianglechoke]

They feel let down by the police............. get over yourself............ Your stupid muslamic (yeah I know its not a real word) raising of the kids did this............. YOU the parents are to blame and I hope yupir kids never make it back............ Muslamic-disease it like AIDS.......... NO KNOWN CURE

[Steely Dan]

It is clear what attitude the large majority of posters have, and I would hazard a guess this is somewhat similar to the attitude of the UK population. In which case why do our politicians debase themselves and behave like jackasses in attempting to cover for a culture with a permanent chip on its shoulder which evidently hates everything we hold dear?

[Mosha]

It is a good thing they aren't considered terrorists.

I strongly associate terrorism with killing innocent people.

The girls are just guilty of treason and should be considered traitors and enemy fighters, not terrorists.

The families' statements that they feel "let down" is indeed startling - one would guess they should be much more aware of what their kids are up to rather than the police!

But then, the mindset of personal responsibility has never been a strength of Southern European and Northern African populations - they always look for people to blame except themselves.

Thanks to the pc brigade, it's always someone else to blame.

[daveAustin]

I do not blame the police, or the parents even; I blame the system in the UK for actually giving a shit.

[uptheos]

It is a good thing they aren't considered terrorists.

I strongly associate terrorism with killing innocent people.

The girls are just guilty of treason and should be considered traitors and enemy fighters, not terrorists.

The families' statements that they feel "let down" is indeed startling - one would guess they should be much more aware of what their kids are up to rather than the police!

But then, the mindset of personal responsibility has never been a strength of Southern European and Northern African populations - they always look for people to blame except themselves.

That's OK though hanging for treason sadly no longer exists......however, they could put through an emergency law.

Treason does carry life without parole, which is OK but it seems an awful lot of expense to the UK taxpayer. These scummy girls aren't of any use to anyone or society in UK any longer, surely they can find a way of getting rid of them. They already have found a way and it's too bad the government doesn't realise they won the lottery once the girls entered Syria. They're probably all pregnant by now as well.

I'm surprised the special forces haven't taken them out yet, it shouldn't be too difficult.

[billphillips]

I feel confident that these girls are not terrorists in the full meaning of the term.

They did however leave home and family to go and assist full blown terrorists in any way that they could.

Their families are a disgrace for not teaching them and guiding them into a peaceful and productive adulthood, lock them up for child negligence.

I think that by now these girls have been shagged senseless and not by handsome young virile men. Their future roll in the terrorist camp is now assured. Just deserts or bad judgement? Try blaming the police for that.

[JockPieandBeans]

They did however leave home and family to go and assist full blown terrorists in any way that they could.

Guilty by association.

The only people responsible for their actions are the 3 idiots that decided to go to Syria and the parents.

[Jim walker]

just good Christian children going out to Syria to help the injured and needy civilian's caught up in the battle against the evil IS Muslims that is why the purchased extra underwear and make up specially for the trip, hope they get their just deserts and a missile gets them and it is a quick ending for them this will allow the parents to concentrate their efforts to make a better job bringing up their other children than getting paid for interviews with newspapers and TV channels

[Steely Dan]

They did however leave home and family to go and assist full blown terrorists in any way that they could.
Guilty by association.

The only people responsible for their actions are the 3 idiots that decided to go to Syria and the parents.

You can hardly make a case for diminished responsibility as they were straight 'A' students. If there is any blame shifting to be done then examine the ideology that attracted them and who spreads this ideology.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Scott

[Credo]

I have no idea if these girls are terrorists or what they are doing. I doubt the police can definitively say either. If the girls eventually are caught, or return, I hope they are carefully assessed to see if they are a danger to society.

Kids, by nature, do stupid, silly things, but they are playing a pretty dangerous game.

Edited March 11, 2015 by Credo

[DoctorB]

Typical of the idiotic PC British police that Rowley completely misses the point.

The vast majority of UK citizens do not give two hoots about them being prosecuted; they just want them permanently excluded from the country and their passports revoked. When these stories are reported in the UK press online, now all too frequently, the overwhelming majority of reader comments are along the lines of, "No problem, let them go, but we don't want them back". But this idea is far too difficult for our half-witted politicians to grasp.

As with the Guantanamo detainees, they will probably ultimately be flown back to the UK at the tax payers expense and offered vast sums in compensation. In the case of the Guantanamo brigade, compensation to stop them making totally unsubstantiated allegations that British security personnel colluded in their torture. In these case of these silly girls, because their teachers, or the police or some other bunch of useful idiots failed to stop them being groomed/radicalised.

They made their decision and chose their side; let them live with it. The main consequence of protecting people from the results of their own folly is a world full of fools.