Family’s hope for jihadi girl
Solicitor claims police knew 15-year-old had contacted Aqsa Mahmood
RELATIVES of a Scots woman suspected of recruiting three London teenagers to Islamic State have not lost all hope that she will return home safe, the family’s lawyer has claimed.
Solicitor Aamer Anwar said the family of Glaswegian Aqsa Mahmood have gone through “real misery” and realise the chances of their daughter returning safely grow smaller every day.
He said that while they have condemned her actions and described her as a disgrace, “they’re her family and she’s still their daughter”.
Mr Anwar made the comments as he criticised authorities over the handling of Miss Mahmood’s case and the disappearance of Shamima Begum, 15; Kadiza Sultana, 16; and Amira Abase, 15.
The lawyer said: “The family of Aqsa have gone through real misery, they’ve said it’s as though she’s killing them every day.
“I think they’re now conscious the window of opportunity to see her again gets smaller and smaller all the time.”
THE UK authorities have been accused of “monumental incompetence” over their handling of children and young people at risk of being radicalised online.
Scottish solicitor Aamer Anwar claimed security officials knew that one of three missing schoolgirls had contacted Glaswegian jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood online, but failed to notify the girls’ families.
The lawyer, who represents Miss Mahmood’s family, warned that radicalisation needs to be treated as a child protection issue and said parents should be notified as soon as police have any information that their child may be at risk.
His comments came as the families of the three missing London teenagers, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, pleaded for them to return home.
The girls – believed to be on their way to Syria after boarding a flight to Turkey on Tuesday – are understood to have been recruited by Miss Mahmood online after one of them sent her a message.
Mr Anwar, who has called for an inquiry, said: “We know from the police that they regularly monitor Aqsa’s online accounts so they would have been well aware of this contact. The fact that they didn’t contact the girl’s family to let them know suggests that either there has been monumental incompetence on the part of the security services or they simply don’t give a damn.
“If a child went missing and it turned out the police were aware that she had been contacted by a known paedophile, but had not told the parents, there would be a public outcry. This case is just like that, this is child abuse.
“These are 15-year-old girls we’re talking about and what will happen to them is that they will not be allowed to leave once they meet up with Isis. They will have their passports torn up and they will be required to marry an Isis jihadi. Why is it that this isn’t being treated as a child protection issue?”
The solicitor added that the girl who contacted Miss Mahmood should have been placed on a “watch list” so she would have been returned to the UK from Turkey. He also questioned why the three girls were not stopped by airport security before boarding the Turkish Airlines flight at Gatwick.
“Here we have two 15-year-old girls and a 16-year-old, dressed conservatively and wearing the Hijab, travelling to Turkey alone without their parents,” he said. “Surely this should have raised alarm bells?”
He added: “I’m calling for an inquiry into this. The families of Aqsa and these three girls have a right to know exactly what the security services knew and what lessons can be learned for the future to stop young people going off to join Isis.”
Meanwhile, the families of the missing schoolgirls have appealed for them to stay out of Syria and return home. Miss Begum’s family issued a statement saying they miss her “terribly” and are “extremely worried” about her.
They said: “Please, if you hear this message, get in touch and let us know you are safe. We want you home with us. You belong at home with us. Syria is a dangerous place and we don’t want you to go there. Get in touch with the police and they will help to bring you home. You are not in any trouble.”
Miss Sultana’s family described the situation as a “complete nightmare”, adding that they are praying for her safe return.
The family of Miss Abase said: “You are strong, smart, beautiful and we are hoping you will make the right decision.
“You had a bright future, so please return home.”
It has emerged that the girls were quizzed as part of a “routine inquiry” by the Metropolitan Police two months ago after a classmate, also 15, travelled to Syria.
Scotland Yard refused to respond to Mr Anwar’s criticism.