Shiraz Maher is a leading academic at King’s College London and last night told BBC Newsnight Home Secretary Sajid Javid had created “a dangerous situation” after it was confirmed the 19-year-old would not be allowed back into the UK.
Begum last week begged to be returned back to the UK after she fled the country to support ISIS in Syria. And now Mr Maher has claimed the authorities should have considered different steps in Ms Begum’s case.
He said: “I think it’s a very dangerous decision, it does create this perception that there is a two-tier system and a system that’s frankly racist.”
Mr Maher argued hundreds of others have travelled to ISIS from the UK but not had their citizenship removed therefore it was unfair to remove Begum’s
Kirsty Wark then pressed him on whether what is going on was racist and he replied: “This is blatantly what’s transpiring.”
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Meanwhile Her family’s lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee, said they were considering “all legal avenues” to contest the decision. Government sources said it was possible to strip the 19-year-old of British nationality as she was eligible for citizenship of another country.
A spokesperson for the Home Office said the department was unable to comment on individual cases but decisions to remove citizenship were “based on all available evidence and not taken lightly”.
The spokesperson said: “In recent days the home secretary has clearly stated that his priority is the safety and security of Britain and the people who live here.”
For many it was Begum’s lack of humility in the whole situation that endeared her to no one with her remarks that the Manchester Suicide bombing was justified and that she sees beheading as a legitimate action within Islamic teaching. The overwhelming reaction of the British people has been one of happiness and acknowledgment the Government listened to the depths of feeling for a change.
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Lead Correspondent | David Clews is the Lead Correspondent for UNN, with over 20 years of political/campaigning experience and a wealth of social media and communication skills David gets to the heart of what is really important to the real people of the UK.
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