Labour MP Shabana Mahmood has affirmed her staunch commitment to defending the decision to revoke ISIS bride Shamima Begum’s citizenship. The Home Secretary has emphasized that the government will stand firm against a new legal challenge. Begum’s legal team argues that she was coerced and misled into sexual exploitation at the age of 15.
In response to queries in Parliament, Mahmood clarified that the case concerning Begum has already been extensively litigated, with all legal matters addressed. The government’s position remains unchanged, and they are prepared to vigorously defend it at the European Court of Human Rights. This announcement followed a demand from the Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, urging the government to prevent Begum from returning to the UK.
Shamima Begum, a native of London, ventured to ISIS-held territory as a schoolgirl and is contesting the decision to strip her UK citizenship in 2019. Former Home Secretary Sajid Javid made the citizenship revocation citing national security concerns, as Begum had married an ISIS fighter and is currently residing in a Syrian camp.
Begum’s legal team is challenging the decision under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, focusing on the prohibition of slavery and forced labor. Judges in Strasbourg have inquired whether the government should have considered Begum as a trafficking victim. Lawyer Gareth Peirce highlighted the failures in safeguarding a vulnerable child and underscored the lack of consideration for grooming and trafficking issues by the authorities.
Now 26, Shamima Begum traveled to Syria in 2015 with two schoolmates, both of whom are reported deceased. Shortly after her arrival, she married an ISIS recruit and subsequently lost all three of her children.