Shamima Begum’s family has hired one of the UK’s top human rights lawyers whose clients have included hate preacher Abu Qatada and other former convicted terrorists.
Gareth Peirce, once described as the lawyer of choice “for every accused jihadist and IRA suspect” took over the former Bethnal Green school girl’s case last week. Born Jean Peirce she changed her name to Gareth in a ‘feminist’ statement. She was famously played by Emma Thompson in the film ‘In The Name of The Father’ representing those jailed for the Guildford pub bombings who were then acquitted.
Peirce, 79, of legal firm Birnberg Peirce, replaces Tasnime Akunjee, who had been working on the family’s behalf since Begum fled to Syria in 2015.
Mr Akunjee, whose attempt to meet Begum in Syria last month was blocked by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said the case was handed over because Peirce has the “legal aid contract to do the work” which implies that the family has successfully applied for financial aid to appeal Sajid Javid’s decision to strip Begum of her British citizenship.
Begum’s family is understood to have lodged a request for a judicial review to challenge the decision. An appeal to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission is said to need Begum’s signature.
It comes at a critical moment for the 19-year-old, whom it has also been claimed had stitched suicide bombers into explosive vests, intelligence operatives told Theresa May and Sajid Javid. According to reports she is already in receipt of legal aid with much outrage across social media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEXuG4JNu8E&t=43s
Lawyer Tasnim Akunjee today told The Metro that he has received numerous death threats in relation to his work.
The Metro said:
‘I don’t care what people are saying, doing the right thing is important’. Mr Akunjee was also critical of what he called ‘smear campaigns’ to link him to extremism, saying the vitriol directed at him was simply because he was a Muslim lawyer. He said: ‘If I was a white guy called Smith, this wouldn’t happen, it’s because of my religious orientation’.
Mr Akunjee was also critical of what he called ‘smear campaigns’ to link him to extremism ‘If I’m being portrayed as an extremist because of who my clients are, then all lawyers are potentially extremists, because we all share a link with our clients.’
Unity News Network has FREE App where we can keep you up to date with all the latest news free of censorship. Click HERE and Download NOW!
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.
Keep up to date with all of David & UN’s work by linking up with us on our Social Media Channels by Clicking Here Now: https://unitynewsnetwork.co.uk/our-social-media-links/
