Daily Express

IS bride: I’ll seek home in Holland after Britain took passport off me

- By John Twomey

RUNAWAY Islamic State bride Shamima Begum is set to beg Holland to give her a passport after she was stripped of her British citizenshi­p.

The father of her five-day-old son, a jihadi fighter whose whereabout­s are unknown, was born and grew up in the Netherland­s and she hopes she may have a right to settle there.

Begum, 19, had begged to come home to Britain despite showing no remorse for her actions and claiming the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 was “justified”.

But Home Secretary Sajid Javid dashed her hopes on Tuesday when he revoked her citizenshi­p.

The family’s lawyer now plans to challenge the decision – as it emerged Begum’s baby may be a British citizen even if his mother no longer is.

Mr Javid told the Commons yesterday: “Children should not suffer. So, if a parent does lose their British citizenshi­p, it does not affect the rights of their child.”

Speaking from a refugee camp in northern Syria where she was shown a copy of the Home Office letter denying her re-entry to the UK, Begum said: “I am a bit shocked. It’s a bit upsetting and frustratin­g.

“I feel like it’s a bit unjust on me and my son.”

The former schoolgirl from Bethnal Green, east London, added: “It’s kind of heartbreak­ing.

“My family made it sound like it would be a lot easier for me to come back to the UK.

“I heard that other people are being sent back to Britain so I don’t know why my case is different, or is it just because I was on the news four years ago?”

Begum fled the village of Baghuz, the last IS stronghold in Syria, just days before giving birth to son Jerah on Sunday.

She revealed she may try to return to the West by applying for a passport in Holland. She was only 15 when she married Yago Riedijk in 2015 after she and two school friends made headlines around the world by going to Syria.

Riedijk, now 27, was raised in the Dutch city of Arnhem but joined IS in Syria in 2014. Last July a judge jailed him for six years in his absence for crimes including murder and causing explosions.

Begum added: “Another option I might try with my family is my husband is from Holland and he has family there.

“Maybe I can ask for citizenshi­p in Holland. If he gets sent back to prison in Holland I can just wait for him.”

The letter from the Home Office to Begum’s parents in London said: “Please find enclosed papers that relate to a decision taken by the Home Secretary, to deprive your daughter, Shamima Begum, of her British citizenshi­p.” Tasnime Akunjee, the family’s lawyer, is set to challenge the decision. Legal experts say people cannot be left stateless and can only be stripped of citizenshi­p if they have dual nationalit­y.

Begum’s mother and father are from Bangladesh but she only has travel documents from Britain.

Mr Javid won the backing of Muhammad Rahman, 36, whose brother is married to Begum’s sister Renu. He said: “The UK doesn’t want to be seen as a soft touch. Personally I am happy with the decision.”

But in a twist last night the government of Bangladesh ruled out any chance she had a right to settle there.

 ?? Pictures: ITV NEWS EXCLUSIVE ?? Begum sees copy of the letter saying she cannot return to UK and, inset, holds her newborn son Jerah yesterday Begum’s sister Renu with her photo in 2015
Pictures: ITV NEWS EXCLUSIVE Begum sees copy of the letter saying she cannot return to UK and, inset, holds her newborn son Jerah yesterday Begum’s sister Renu with her photo in 2015
 ??  ?? Sajid Javid made the decision
Sajid Javid made the decision

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