Begum must be afforded justice
Five years ago Shamima Begum, then 15, left her home and birthplace in England and made her way to Syria.
She travelled to lend her support to Isis. Begum now wants to return, but is barred from doing so. She is presently in limbo, living in the Al- Roj displaced persons’ camp in northeast Syria. The UK Government has deprived Begum of her citizenship and refused to grant her permission to enter the country.
The deprivation of citizenship equates to modern- day banishment. Its effects are life- changing. Persons deprived lose their right to live in that country. They require permission, or leave, to enter it. They are outcasts.
The use of citizenship deprivation in the name of national security has grown considerably in recent years. So- called foreign terrorist fighters have largely been the target, in the UK and elsewhere. Numbers have grown and the scope of the power has widened. British- born citizens can now lose their nationality.
The power to deprive an individual of their citizenship is exercised by the Secretary of State under the powers given to her in the British Nationality Act 1981. For foreign terrorist fighters, the basis of a decision must be that it is conducive for the public good because that person conducted herself in a manner seriously prejudicial to the vital interests of the country. Applying this test in February 2019, then Home Secretary Sajid Javid stripped Begum of her citizenship.
Begum will shortly re- enter public consciousness. The UK Supreme Court will on Monday begin to hear arguments in her appeal against the loss of her citizenship. The President of the Court, Lord Reed, and four other Justices will consider features of the procedure to- date in her case. Its decision could well seal Begum’s fate – one way or the other.
The Supreme Court will not directly answer the critical question in Begum’s case; whether the deprivation of her citizenship was lawful. Rather, it will decide whether she should be admitted to the UK in order to participate in her appeal against