Shamima Begum: UK's own terror watchdog to back Isis bride in her bid to return home

Shamima Begum should be allowed to return to the UK, according to the Government’s independent terrorism watchdog.

Last week, Begum lost her legal challenge over the decision to deprive her of her British citizenship.

She was 15 when she and two other schoolgirls from east London travelled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State (Isis) in February 2015.

Her British citizenship was revoked on national security grounds by Sajid Javid who was Home Secretary at the time.

Begum lost her legal challenge over the decision to deprive her of her British citizenship.
Laura Lean

In February 2019 she was found nine months pregnant in a Syrian refugee camp.

Now, the reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, is set to put forward the case that British women who joined the Islamic State should be brought home.

He will justify his position by using the US, who is a key ally of the UK, as an example.

The US currently allows their citizens to return from Syria.

Hall is set to speak at King’s College London and will the UK’s approach is “at a crossroads”.

He is expected to say: “Compared to men, women are less likely to have travelled for the purpose of fighting, are less likely to have played battlefield roles, may well have had less autonomy in being able to leave and now make up the majority of those UK-linked individuals detained.

“Women with children may also fear child protection measures being taken against them… mitigating against further terrorist engagement.”

Begum does not have any travel documents which means without the help of the British Government she is not able to leave Syria.

CCTV issued by the Metropolitan Police of (left to right) 15-year-old Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana,16 and Shamima Begum,15 at Gatwick airport, before they caught their flight.
Metropolitan Police

The Government is under mounting pressure from a number of countries, including the US, with President Joe Biden warning that it could unsettle stability in the region and western security.

Last week in reaction to the judge’s ruling, Begum’s lawyers said her legal fight was “nowhere near over” and announced plans to appeal the decision.

One of Begum’s solicitors, Daniel Furne, said: “In terms of the legal fight, that’s nowhere near over, we’re not going into details about exactly what that means at this stage.

“What else this judgment calls out for though is some courage and some leadership from the Home Secretary to look at this case afresh in light of the clear and compelling factual findings this court has made.”