Government disappointed at Begum ruling

THE GOVERNMENT has expressed its “bitter disappointment” by a court ruling allowing Shamima Begum to return to the UK to challenge the deprivation of her British citizenship.

Senior judges said Ms Begum – one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State group (IS) – should be allowed to return to the UK to fight the decision to remove her British citizenship.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Government’s priority is maintaining our national security, and decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are not taken lightly.

“We will always ensure the safety and security of the UK and will not allow anything to jeopardise this.”

Campaigners welcomed the ruling and said it was the “right decision and British citizens should welcome it”.

FORMER HOME Secretary Sajid Javid has said he was “deeply concerned” by a judgment to allow Shamima Begum to return to the UK to challenge the removal of her British citizenship.

The Court of Appeal ruled that Ms Begum, who was one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join the so-called Islamic State group (IS), should be allowed to come back to the UK to pursue the legal challenge.

Ms Begum, now 20, travelled to Syria in February 2015 and lived under IS rule for more than three years before she was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year.

Then-Home Secretary Mr Javid revoked her British citizenship on national security grounds later that month. Ms Begum took legal action against the Home Office, claiming the decision was unlawful as it rendered her stateless and exposed her to a real risk of death or inhuman and degrading treatment.

Mr Javid said he respected the court and would limit how much he said about the case, but that there were important principles at stake.

“Any restrictions of rights and freedoms faced by Ms Begum are a direct consequence of the actions she has taken, in violation of both government guidance and common morality,” he said.

“It is not clear to me why an appeal could not be made abroad using modern technology. However, this is not solely a matter of justice. It is also a matter of national security.”

The Home Office said it will apply for permission to appeal but campaigners welcomed the news.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: “These are people brought up, often born here, with families and loved ones and the Government should stand up and be counted when they are radicalised.

“They should also be prosecuted in the UK for their crimes, and interrogated so we can learn and prevent more young Brits becoming terrorists.”

Mohammed Shafiq, the Manchester-based Ramadhan Foundation’s chief executive, said the ruling was the “right decision and British citizens should welcome it”.

The Court of Appeal ruled yesterday

Fairness and justice must outweigh the national security concerns.

Lord Justice Flaux, sitting at the Court of Appeal.

that “the only way in which she can have a fair and effective appeal is to be permitted to come into the United Kingdom to pursue her appeal”.

Lord Justice Flaux, sitting with Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh, said: “Fairness and justice must, on the facts of this case, outweigh the national security concerns, so that the leave to enter appeals should be allowed.”

The judge found national security concerns could be “addressed and managed” if she returns.

Ms Begum was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy who left to join IS, shortly after Sharmeena Begum – who is no relation – travelled to Syria in December 2014.

Kadiza Sultana and Amira Abase, then 16 and 15 respectively, and Ms Begum boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on February 17, 2015, before making their way to Raqqa in Syria.

Ms Begum claims she married Dutch convert Yago Riedijk 10 days after arriving in IS territory, with all three of her school friends also reportedly marrying foreign IS fighters.

She told The Times newspaper in February last year that she left Raqqa in January 2017 with her husband but her children, a oneyear-old girl and a three-monthold boy, had both since died. Her third child died shortly after he was born.