Shamima Begum: Losing cictizenship isn’t easy. Shemima Begum is a woman from the United Kingdom who traveled to Syria in 2015 to join the Islamic State (IS) group when she was 15 years old. She was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy in London who left the UK to join the terrorist organization.
In 2019, Shamima Begum made headlines when she asked to return to the UK after her citizenship was revoked by the British government. She was found in a Syrian refugee camp and gave interviews to various media outlets where she expressed remorse for her decision to join the Islamic State and asked for forgiveness.
The UK government refused to allow her to return to the country, arguing that she posed a threat to national security and that she could still be a danger to society. In February 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Shamima Begum cannot return to the UK to pursue an appeal against the removal of her citizenship.
The decision to revoke Shamima Begum’s citizenship and deny her the right to return to the UK is a controversial issue, and there are arguments on both sides.
Those who support the decision argue that Begum willingly left the UK to join a terrorist organization that has committed atrocities and poses a significant threat to national security. They argue that she has shown little remorse for her actions and has not demonstrated that she has abandoned her extremist beliefs. They also point out that the UK government has a duty to protect its citizens from potential harm, and allowing Begum to return could put the public at risk.
However, those who oppose the decision argue that it is a violation of Begum’s human rights and that she should be allowed to return to the UK to face justice. They argue that Begum was a minor when she left the UK and that she may have been vulnerable to grooming and radicalization by the Islamic State. They also argue that denying her the right to return could set a dangerous precedent and make it more difficult for other UK citizens to return home if they become trapped in conflict zones.
Ultimately, the decision to revoke Begum’s citizenship and deny her the right to return to the UK is a complex and contentious issue, and opinions are divided. It is up to each individual to form their own view on whether the UK government did the right thing or not.
The court ruled that Begum’s citizenship had been lawfully revoked as she had not been made stateless by the decision, as she was also a citizen of Bangladesh through her parents. The court also noted that while she had the right to a fair hearing of her appeal, it did not follow that she had the right to enter the UK for that purpose.
This ruling means that Begum cannot return to the UK to pursue her appeal against the revocation of her citizenship, and she remains in Syria. However, it should be noted that the decision does not prevent her from seeking other legal avenues to challenge the decision or from appealing to the UK government to reverse its decision.
As of now, Shamima Begum is not allowed to return to the UK. In 2019, the UK government revoked her British citizenship on national security grounds, while she was in a refugee camp in Syria. In February 2021, the UK Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision, meaning that Begum cannot return to the UK to pursue an appeal against the revocation of her citizenship.
However, it’s important to note that the decision to revoke Begum’s citizenship does not make her stateless, as she is also a citizen of Bangladesh through her parents. Therefore, in theory, she could potentially seek to return to Bangladesh.
It’s worth mentioning that the situation is complex and controversial, and there are different opinions on whether Begum should be allowed to return to the UK or not. The UK government has argued that allowing her to return could pose a threat to national security and that she should face justice in the region where she joined the terrorist group. However, some have argued that Begum was a minor when she left the UK and that she should be allowed to return and face justice in her home country.
It is unclear whether Bangladesh would accept Shamima Begum, as there has been no official statement from the government of Bangladesh on this matter.
In February 2019, the Bangladeshi foreign minister stated that Bangladesh would not allow Begum to enter the country and that she has no claim to Bangladeshi citizenship. However, the Bangladeshi government has not made any formal announcement regarding her citizenship status or whether she would be allowed to enter the country if she wished to.
It’s important to note that Begum’s parents are of Bangladeshi origin, and therefore, she may be eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship. However, it’s unclear whether Begum has taken any steps to obtain Bangladeshi citizenship or whether she would be willing to go to Bangladesh if offered the opportunity.
Ultimately, whether Bangladesh would accept Begum or not is uncertain, and it’s a matter that would require further discussions and negotiations between the governments of the UK and Bangladesh.
It’s difficult to predict where Shamima Begum would go if neither the UK nor Bangladesh accepts her. As of now, she remains in a refugee camp in Syria, and it’s unclear what her future plans are.
There have been reports that Begum may be eligible for citizenship in another country, as she has a right to citizenship in the country of her husband, who was an IS fighter and is reported to have been a Dutch national. However, there has been no official confirmation of this, and it’s unclear whether Begum has taken any steps to pursue this option.
It’s also possible that Begum may seek asylum in a third country if she faces the risk of persecution or mistreatment if returned to Syria or elsewhere. However, seeking asylum in another country is a complex and lengthy process, and there is no guarantee that she would be granted asylum.
Overall, the situation is complex and uncertain, and it’s unclear what the future holds for Shamima Begum.
