Shamima Begum and other UK-linked people in Syria SHOULD be repatriated, counter-terror review says

The commission cautioned that the detention centres in northeastern Syria threatened to become "Britain's Guantanamo", drawing parallels to the US facility in Cuba where al-Qaeda suspects were imprisoned indefinitely.

It argued that conditions in camps such as Al Hol and Al Roj amount to "inhuman and degrading treatment", making Britain's stance incompatible with its human rights commitments internationally.

Shamima Begum left Bethnal Green in east London when she was 15 years old in 2015 to join the terror group Islamic State, which has been linked to numerous terrorist attacks across Britain and Europe, including the Manchester Arena bombing.

She travelled alongside two other schoolgirls and married an Islamic State fighter shortly after reaching Syria, having three children who all died in infancy.

In 2019, Begum had her UK citizenship revoked for joining the terror group and has been pursuing legal campaigns to get it back and return to Britain since.

Now 26, she remains detained at the Al Roj refugee camp in Syria.

Between 50 and 70 individuals with British connections remain detained in the Syrian facilities, with women forming the majority and an estimated 12 to 30 children among them, according to the commission's findings.

The commission highlighted Britain's isolated position, noting that the United States, Canada and multiple European countries have already brought their nationals home from Islamic State detention.

Britain's "strategic distance" policy involves removing citizenship, restricting consular support and financing Kurdish guards to keep detainees confined.

The commission stated: "The government should facilitate the voluntary repatriation for British nationals, including those deprived of British nationality."

It recommended establishing a special envoy to manage repatriations and ensure those returning understand they may face prosecution.

Commissioners also proposed the appointment of a “special envoy to oversee repatriation and inform returnees of the likelihood of prosecution."

The report stated: "As escapes from camps are likely to lead to some returns to the UK, an organised programme of return, rehabilitation and integration is the best long-term option for managing risk."

Commissioners identified various measures to handle returnees whilst protecting public safety, such as travel restrictions, investigations and enrolment in deradicalisation initiatives.

The review additionally concluded that Britain's Prevent counter-terrorism programme "is no longer keeping the country safe" and requires a "radical overhaul".

Reacting to the news, the Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the advice of the commissioners “outrageous”.

“Extremists who have been deprived of British citizenship should not be allowed back into the UK.

“We frankly need to see the deportation of more extremists who are here without being British citizens,” he told GB News.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has previously said he was “thoughtful” about allowing Begum to return to the UK.

"I've never wanted to. I've instinctively never wanted to. But I'm now thoughtful, I'm thoughtful. I don't classify her as an ISIS, an all out ISIS killer.

"It's very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others, and instinctively, instinctively, it's not something I want to do," he said in January.

The Clacton MP made the comments after President Donald Trump's terrorism tsar Sebastian Gorka opined that ISIS members in Syria should be brought home.

"Gorka argues that if we and other European countries don't take back these people and put them in prison here, they will get out of prison under the new Syrian regime, leading to a problem that in the end we may all have to fight," Mr Farage told ITV.

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