Today at the Supreme Court Shamima Begum’s legal team are challenging the decision to remove her British citizenship in a bid to pave the way for her potential return to the UK. Ms Begum, who is now 21, was one of three east London girls who travelled to Syria to join the Islamic State group (IS) in February 2015, where she lived with the group for more than three years.
Begum’s presence in Syria was discovered by British intelligence in February last year. At that point the then-home secretary Sajid Javid revoked her British citizenship on national security grounds towards the end of February 2019. However, in July of this year, the Court of Appeal ruled 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 who sat on the case 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”!. Following that the Court of Appeal gave permission for both the Home Office and Ms Begum to take their case to the UK’s highest court, and ordered a “stay” on Ms Begum’s return “until further order by the Supreme Court”.
Today a remote two-day hearing will begin as judges consider whether she should return to the UK to appeal. As part of this hearing, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) will also hear the cases of three other individuals with dual British-Bangladeshi heritage whose British citizenship has been revoked on the grounds of national security.
UNN’s Oliver Down will keep you across events from the Supreme Court and will provide updates on the case as and when we get them.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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