Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to "robustly defend" the government's contentious decision to revoke the British citizenship of Shamima Begum, as the legal battle enters a new phase at the European Court of Human Rights.
Legal Challenge Centres on Trafficking Claims
Lawyers for Ms Begum, now 26, are mounting a fresh challenge, arguing she was a victim of trafficking when she travelled to Syria as a teenager. They contend that at the age of 15, she was "lured, encouraged and deceived for the purposes of sexual exploitation" to join the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has now demanded answers from the UK government. Judges have specifically asked the Home Office whether officials should have considered if Ms Begum was a trafficking victim before former Home Secretary Sir Sajid Javid stripped her of citizenship in February 2019.
A Case Tested in Domestic Courts
Ms Begum, who was born in London, left the UK in 2015 with two schoolfriends, Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana, both of whom are now reported dead. Shortly after arriving in ISIS-held territory, she married a 23-year-old ISIS fighter and subsequently gave birth to three children, all of whom have died. She remains in a Syrian camp.
The decision to remove her citizenship, taken on national security grounds, has been upheld by UK courts, including the Supreme Court. However, her legal team, led by solicitor Gareth Peirce, argues there was a "catalogue of failures" to protect a child known to be at risk.
"It is impossible to dispute that a 15-year-old British child was... lured, encouraged and deceived for the purposes of sexual exploitation," Ms Peirce stated, adding that the state's duties to a trafficked child were not considered.
Government Stands Firm on National Security
Despite the new legal arguments, the government's position remains unmoved. A government source confirmed that Ms Mahmood is prepared to fight the challenge and will "always put this country's national security first."
The source stated: "The Home Secretary will robustly defend the decision to revoke Shamima Begum's citizenship, which has been tested and upheld time and again in our domestic courts."
The Conservative opposition has also reiterated its stance, asserting that Ms Begum should not be allowed back into the UK "under any circumstances." The case continues to pose profound questions about citizenship, national security, and the state's duty of care to vulnerable children.
