Shamima Begum loses ANOTHER citizenship appeal... but could now waste even MORE taxpayer money

Shamima Begum loses ANOTHER citizenship appeal... but could now waste even MORE taxpayer money

WATCH NOW: Andrew Drury reveals all about working with Shamima Begum

GB NEWS
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 23/02/2024

- 10:22

Updated: 23/02/2024

- 11:40

Shamima Begum was just 15-years-old when she left her Bethnal Green home to travel to Syria

ISIS bride Shamima Begum has lost her citizenship appeal after the Court of Appeal upheld the decision taken in 2019.

The ruling states Begum, 24, was lawfully deprived of her citizenship and ensures she will remain in Syria with no chance of return to the UK.



Dame Sue Carr, the head of the Court of Appeal, said the three judges unanimously dismissed Begum’s appeal.

She said: “It could be argued that the decision in Miss Begum’s case was harsh.

Shamima Begum has lost her appeal

Shamima Begum has lost her appeal

GB NEWS/ITV

“It could also be argued that Miss Begum is the author of her own misfortune.

"But it is not for this court to agree or disagree with either point of view.

“Our only task is to assess whether the deprivation decision was unlawful.

"We have concluded it was not and the appeal is dismissed.”

Begum, who was born in East London, was stripped of her British citizenship on national security grounds by then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid after she joined the extremist group in Syria alongside two friends at the age of just 15.

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Lord Chief Justice, Dame Sue Carr, during a live broadcast at the Court of Appeal

Lord Chief Justice, Dame Sue Carr, during a live broadcast at the Court of Appeal

PA

She lost a challenge against the decision to revoke her citizenship at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission last year and was separately refused the "leave to enter" permission for her planned short stay.

Begum could look to appeal the latest ruling at the Supreme Court and eventually could take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The legal battle over Begum's citizenship is estimated to have cost the British taxpayer in excess of £5million.

When asked who is footing the bill, human rights lawyer David Haigh told GB News: "We are, British taxpayers.

"She has legal aid and nine-years-ago she went to Syria and the legal battle has been going on for five-years or so.

Shamima Begum was just 15-years-old when she left her Bethnal Green home to travel to Syria

Shamima Begum was just 15-years-old when she left her Bethnal Green home to travel to Syria

ITV

"You can imagine the number of lawyers who have been involved, the level of lawyers who have been involved and the expense that we, the British taxpayer, have been put to."

Begum married Dutch jihadi fighter Yago Riedijk shortly after arriving in Syria and had three children with him but all of them later died.

Lady Carr said: "She married an ISIL fighter soon after arriving, she went onto have three children, sadly none of whom survived."

The 24-year-old, who was accused of being an "enforcer" who recruited other women to join the caliphate, claimed she was a "dumb kid" and "didn't want to be the friend that was left behind".

Begum's lawyers have also argued there is "overwhelming evidence" she was a victim of trafficking when she fled to the war-ravaged country.

However, Home Office lawyer Sir James Eadie KC said the "key feature" of Begum's case is national security.

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