UK woman found guilty of taking son to join IS in Syria

SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press


LONDON (AP) — A British woman has been found guilty of taking her toddler son to join the Islamic State group, becoming the first woman to be convicted of the offense after returning to the U.K. from the self-declared caliphate in Syria.

Tareena Shakil, 26, was convicted of being a member of the Islamic State and encouraging acts of terrorism. She will be sentenced on Monday. Police said in October 2014 she and her one-year-old son boarded a plane to Turkey, where she crossed into Syria and spent three months there.

Counter-terrorism officers arrested Shakil on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offenses and child neglect at London's Heathrow Airport when she returned last February. Her son has since been taken into social care.

During her trial, Shakil denied the charges, claiming she only travelled to Syria because she wanted to live under strict Islamic law. But a photo on her phone showed her posing with a firearm and wearing an Islamic State balaclava, and another photo showed her posing in Syria under the group's flag. Police also said she had sent a series of tweets before she left Britain, encouraging others to commit terror acts.

"Our assessment is that she was not naïve; she had absolutely clear intentions when she left the U.K.," said Marcus Beale at West Midlands Police. He added that she "presented a real threat" to Britain upon her return.

Like many other European countries, Britain is increasingly concerned about residents — especially young people — travelling to Syria to fight or support militants. Figures released this month showed that the number of girls and women travelling from Britain to Syria is increasing, with 56 believed to have left for the conflict-torn country last year.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-01-30

If it is known anyone has traveled to Syria and joined the terrorists, simply don't let them re-enter the UK. End of story.

According to other articles about this story, about 60 British women have returned from ISIS to Britain over the past few years. I guess they finally decided to prosecute one!

I would bet that she gets custody of her kid back as soon as she is out of jail. He'll be just to right age to be radicalized and sent on a Jihad.

If it is known anyone has traveled to Syria and joined the terrorists, simply don't let them re-enter the UK. End of story.

Short of recognising the caliphate as a sovereign state, we can't do that to single nationals born or registered as British. British citizens had the right to enter the UK freely. That nonsense from Magna Carta was removed in 2014; now one can be compelled to make an appointment to enter the country.

Must have been trying to get rid of the little s**t

Let us hope the sentence is very long and that when finished this wannabe Jihadist will be stripped of her UK passport and deported back into the world of her dreams .

I hope an example is made with a 10+ year sentence. Go if you want, leave your infant

son behind with his father/family, and don't come back yourself.

Forget the prison sentence, save the taxpayers money, just pack her back to IS good riddance.

Let us hope the sentence is very long and that when finished this wannabe Jihadist will be stripped of her UK passport and deported back into the world of her dreams .

You'd better hope she has no contact with Pakistani consular support, or she'll be renouncing her Pakistani nationality - if she hasn't already. If she's got Australian citizenship (her mother's a white Australian - source: Daily Mail), you'll have to hope Australia doesn't strip her of citizenship first. It's too late for her to acquire Australian citizenship - bad character!

Actually, I'm not sure that she could be stripped of British citizenship even if she were still a dual national. It would have to be on the grounds that it would be conducive to the public good - the law doesn't allow deprivation as a punishment. The best argument on 'conducive' grounds now that she's deserted ISIS would be that her family's a violent lot (according to the Daily Mail), and that would make Anglo-Thai delinquents vulnerable.

Unfortunately same problem in Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands and many European other countries.

If it is known anyone has traveled to Syria and joined the terrorists, simply don't let them re-enter the UK. End of story.

She is a Traitor to the UK that nurtured her,confiscate her British Passport and send her back to IS as Blacklisted forever!

I rather she be sent to China. They would be happy with some new organs...

I rather she be sent to China. They would be happy with some new organs...

Surely treason, which used to be enough to remove someone's head, is sufficient reason to remove someone's citizenship.

If it is known anyone has traveled to Syria and joined the terrorists, simply don't let them re-enter the UK. End of story.

Short of recognising the caliphate as a sovereign state, we can't do that to single nationals born or registered as British. British citizens had the right to enter the UK freely. That nonsense from Magna Carta was removed in 2014; now one can be compelled to make an appointment to enter the country.

Richard W is absolutely correct. Whilst I am NOT an immigration attorney, I have learned a great deal about the topic over the past few years doing related work. A revision of existing legislation is what would be required here.

Now, as to whether or not the politicians have the gonads to undertake such a task remains to be seen......

You're Welcome!!

If it is known anyone has traveled to Syria and joined the terrorists, simply don't let them re-enter the UK. End of story.

Short of recognising the caliphate as a sovereign state, we can't do that to single nationals born or registered as British. British citizens had the right to enter the UK freely. That nonsense from Magna Carta was removed in 2014; now one can be compelled to make an appointment to enter the country.

Richard W is absolutely correct. Whilst I am NOT an immigration attorney, I have learned a great deal about the topic over the past few years doing related work. A revision of existing legislation is what would be required here.

Now, as to whether or not the politicians have the gonads to undertake such a task remains to be seen......

You're Welcome!!

Haven't seen any politicians carrying around a bag of balls...