Irish Daily Mail

UK snubs Trump’s call to take back fanatics

- By Ian Drury

BRITISH prime minister Theresa May has rebuffed Donald Trump’s demand that countries in the EU take back Isis fighters and their jihadi brides.

Britain has at least six fanatics languishin­g in secret jails in Syria and dozens of wives in refugee camps in the region.

On Sunday, the US president said European nations should ‘step up’ and repatriate more than 800 Isis combatants.

If not, he warned America would be forced to release fighters who could make their way back to Europe and plot attacks. But Mrs May rejected the call, insisting prosecutio­ns should take place in the country where the crimes were committed – even if there is no functionin­g justice system.

A No 10 spokesman said: ‘Foreign fighters should be brought to justice in accordance with due legal process in the most appropriat­e jurisdicti­on. Where possible, this should be in the region where crimes were committed. We continue to work closely with our internatio­nal partners on this.’

But the stance was criticised by Tory MP Andrew Mitchell, a former internatio­nal developmen­t secretary, who said: ‘It’s important these people are not left stateless in ungoverned spaces floating around or consorting with those of ill-intention.’

He added: ‘We cannot just close our eyes and pull up the drawbridge.’

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Sajid Javid revealed more than 100 dual nationals who travelled to join Isis have had their UK citizenshi­p stripped by Britain’s Home Office to stop them re-entering the country.

He made the admission in the Commons while answering an urgent question on the case of Shamima Begum, the jihadi bride who cannot be banned because she only holds a British passport.

Mr Javid said: ‘Whatever role they took in the so-called caliphate, they all supported a terrorist organisati­on and in doing so they have shown they hate our country.’

He added: ‘If you back terror, there must be consequenc­es.’

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland