Shamima Begum
Shamima Begum, who once went to Syria to join ISIS, loses appeal against removal of British citizenship
A woman who once left the United Kingdom to join the terror group Islamic State at the age of 15 has lost her Court of Appeal challenge over the decision to remove her British citizenship.
Shamima Begum, who was 15 years old then, left the UK for Syria in 2015.
She left for Syria with her two school friends to join the terror outfit.
She spent several years in Raqqa city.
She made international headlines as an “ISIS bride” after pleading with the UK government to be allowed to return to her home country for the birth of her son, reported CNN.
Death of her children
Aged 15, she married an alleged ISIL combatant and gave birth to two children while still a minor, and then a third after turning 18.
All three children died. The third while they were detained at Al Hol refugee camp in northern Syria.
In 2019, then-Home Secretary Sajid Javid removed her British citizenship.
What happened in the court?
Dame Sue Carr, one of the appeal judges who ruled on the case, on Friday (February 23, 2024) said that they agreed with the commission's decision on Begum's citizenship and dismissed her appeal.
The judge was quoted as saying by Sky News: "Ms Begum may well have been influenced and manipulated by others but still have made a calculated decision to travel to Syria and align with ISIL [Islamic State]."
She added: "It could be argued the decision in Ms Begum's case was harsh. It could also be argued that Ms Begum is the author of her own misfortune."
"But it is not for this court to agree or disagree with either point of view," she said.
"The only task of the court was to assess whether the deprivation decision was unlawful. Since it was not, Ms Begum's appeal is dismissed," she said.
The country's Home Office, represented by Sir James Eadie KC, said the "key feature" of Begum's case is national security.
Begum's solicitor Daniel Furner told Sky News: "We are not going to stop fighting until she does get justice and until she is safely back home."
One of her lawyers, Gareth Peirce, told Sky News: "As long as she is there, it is not the end."
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