The mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said that he is fully supportive of the decision to allow Shamima Begum to return to the UK to face justice in the UK criminal courts. On Thursday the Court of Appeal ruled that Begum should be allowed to return to the UK to fight the decision to strip her of her British citizenship.
In response to the decision Downing Street said that the Government was “bitterly disappointed” by the ruling. The Home Office has said it plans to appeal.
However, Sadiq Khan has said : “I think people who commit criminal offences must face the music. While we’ve got courts in this country and judges who are some of the fairest in the world, I think if a British citizen commits an offence here or overseas they should face justice in the criminal courts. And if she (Begum) has committed a criminal offence I’m sure the jury will find her guilty, and justice will be served. What I’m not in favour of is us sub-contracting justice to another country”.
The ruling judge in this case stated that “the national security concerns about her could be addressed and managed if she returns to the United Kingdom”. A spokeswoman for the Home Office has said : “This is a very disappointing decision by the court. We will now apply for permission to appeal this judgement, and to stay its effects pending any onward appeal”.
Ms Begum was one of three schoolgirls who left their homes and families to join IS. Begum claims that she married a Dutch convert Yago Riedijk 10 days after arriving in IS territory. Begum told The Times in February 2019 that she left Raqqa in January 2017 with her husband and children. Both children have since died and a third child died shortly after being born.
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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