Shamima Begum: East London schoolgirl loses appeal against removal of UK citizenship | UK News

Shamima Begum has misplaced an attraction in opposition to the removing of her British citizenship.

The east London schoolgirl, now 24, travelled to Syria in 2015 on the age of 15, earlier than her citizenship was revoked on nationwide safety grounds shortly after she was present in a refugee camp in 2019.

After a collection of authorized battles, Ms Begum misplaced a problem on the Particular Immigration Appeals Fee (SIAC) in February final 12 months – however took her case to the Courtroom of Enchantment in October.

This morning, Dame Sue Carr, one of many attraction judges who dominated on the case, stated they agreed with the fee’s resolution on Ms Begum’s citizenship and dismissed her attraction.

The choose stated: “Ms Begum might effectively have been influenced and manipulated by others however nonetheless have made a calculated resolution to journey to Syria and align with ISIL [Islamic State].”

She added: “It could possibly be argued the choice in Ms Begum’s case was harsh. It is also argued that Ms Begum is the creator of her personal misfortune.

“However it’s not for this courtroom to agree or disagree with both perspective.

“The one job of the courtroom was to evaluate whether or not the deprivation resolution was illegal. Because it was not, Ms Begum’s attraction is dismissed.”

Ms Begum, who stays in a refugee camp in northern Syria, was represented at her attraction by Samantha Knights KC, who argued the federal government had failed to think about authorized duties owed to a possible sufferer of trafficking.

However the House Workplace, represented by Sir James Eadie KC, stated the “key characteristic” of Ms Begum’s case is nationwide safety.

Ms Begum’s authorized staff is more likely to attraction in opposition to the newest ruling, with arguments over the implications of at the moment’s judgment adjourned for seven days.

Her solicitor Daniel Furner stated: “We aren’t going to cease combating till she does get justice and till she is safely again dwelling.”

One among her attorneys, Gareth Peirce, advised Sky Information dwelling editor Jason Farrell forward of the listening to: “So long as she is there, it’s not the top.”

Talking after the ruling she stated it was too early to say whether or not they would take the case to the Supreme Courtroom however urged the federal government to comply with different international locations and repatriate Ms Begum with out being compelled by the courts.

A House Workplace spokesperson stated: “We’re happy that the Courtroom of Enchantment has present in favour of our place on this case.

“Our precedence stays sustaining the security and safety of the UK and we’ll robustly defend any resolution made in doing so”.

What are the arguments for and in opposition to her return?

Saying the SIAC resolution final February, Mr Justice Jay stated “the actual deserves of Ms Begum’s case” concerned her arguments that she had been the sufferer of trafficking.

The tribunal discovered there was a “credible suspicion” Ms Begum was “recruited, transferred after which harboured for the aim of sexual exploitation”.

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Ms Knights and Dan Squires KC argued on the Courtroom of Enchantment the UK has did not have a “full and efficient” investigation into how Ms Begum was trafficked.

Nonetheless, the SIAC had additionally discovered then dwelling secretary Sajid Javid was not required to formally contemplate whether or not Ms Begum was, or might need been, trafficked when deciding to strip her British citizenship.

Sir James stated: “The truth that somebody is radicalised, and should have been manipulated, will not be inconsistent with the evaluation that they pose a nationwide safety threat.

“Ms Begum contends that nationwide safety shouldn’t be a ‘trump’ card.

“However the public shouldn’t be uncovered to dangers to nationwide safety as a result of occasions and circumstances have conspired to present rise to that threat.”

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Within the 42-page Courtroom of Enchantment judgment, the judges stated they have been “not persuaded that there was any obligation on the secretary of state to take note of the chance that there is likely to be an obligation to analyze the circumstances of Ms Begum’s trafficking.”

They discovered SIAC was entitled to search out “that the difficulty of whether or not and to what extent Ms Begum’s journey to Syria had been voluntary was inside the experience of the intelligence businesses advising the secretary of state”.