Family lodges appeal to win back Isil bride’s citizenship

THE family of Shamima Begum has taken the Home Secretary to court to appeal the decision to strip the 19-yearold of her British citizenship.

Ms Begum vanished from her home in Bethnal Green in London four years ago, along with two other teenage girls, and travelled to Syria, where she married a Holland-born fighter for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, stripped her of her citizenship just days after she gave birth to a baby boy, who died only three weeks later. It was the third child she had lost in four years.

Now, according to The Guardian, an appeal against the decision to revoke her citizenship has been lodged with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission by Ms Begum’s mother. Another challenge was due to be lodged with the High Court today.

Tasnime Akunjee, the solicitor representing Ms Begum’s family, claims the Government’s decision breaks several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“We are arguing the decision is wrong because it renders Shamima Begum stateless, it puts her life at risk, exposes her to inhumane and degrading treatment, and breaches her right to family life,” he told The Guardian.

“The Government has accepted that 400 people have ... actively fought for [Isil] and then been allowed back to Britain. So how can it be proportionate for a 19-year-old girl who had a child not be allowed to return?”

Last week, Mr Akunjee was unable to get Ms Begum’s written permission to launch an appeal for British citizenship after he was blocked by Syrian forces from entering the camp she is in.

The solicitor was stopped just “50 metres” from Ms Begum after travelling thousands of miles to al-roj camp in north-eastern Syria.

Instead, the appeal has been launched by Ms Begum’s mother.