The family of Shamima Begum has formally started a legal challenge against home secretary Sajid Javid saying his decision to strip the teenager of her British citizenship was unfair.
Begum fled her east London home for Syria in February 2015 at the age of 15, along with two school friends after reading terrorist propaganda online. There she married a terrorist fighter and had three children, all of whom have died. After she reemerged in a refugee camp in Syria last month pleading to be allowed to return to the UK, Javid controversially stripped her of her British citizenship.
Javid will not reconsider his decision despite Bangladesh saying it will not grant Begum citizenship, thus rendering her stateless if the British decision stands. This would be contrary to international law.
An appeal against that decision has now been lodged with the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (“SIAC”) and another challenge to the home secretary’s actions will be filed in the high court. The appeal, brought by Begum’s mother, claims the home secretary’s decision has put the teenager’s life in danger, leaving her suffering degrading treatment in a Syrian refugee camp and facing threats from Isis extremists. The SIAC case is complicated by the fact that Begum is incommunicado.
The family’s solicitor Tasnime Akunjee claims the government’s decision contravenes several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights as it renders her stateless, puts her life at risk, exposes her to inhumane and degrading treatment, and breaches her right to family life. He also argues the action was disproportionate as the government has previously allowed hundreds of active combatants in the war in Syria to return while there was no evidence Begum was involved in any way other than in a peripheral capacity.
The high court action seeks a judicial review, accusing the home secretary of failing to take into account facts as he took key decisions.
