David Haines, Alan Henning, James Foley, and Steven Sotloff. Four names etched in our collective memory, lost to the atrocities of ISIL in Syria in 2014. Their murders were not only human tragedies but acts of cruelty that shocked the world. The grief of their families is indescribable, their lives snuffed out by a regime that represented the nadir of human evil. It is our duty to remember them – and to see that their suffering was not in vain.
The Islamic State group has left a trail of destruction that is staggering in its scale. Between 2002 and 2015, ISIL killed 33,000 people, wounded 41,000, and kidnapped 11,000 others. At its height in 2014, this so-called caliphate controlled an area in Syria and Iraq the size of South Korea. Even after its territorial collapse, ISIL’s role in terrorism remains. In 2022, it caused more deaths from terrorism than any other group in the world. Its plan was vague: local control, rule under an interpretation of Sharia law, and the extermination of all who opposed it.
It was in this furnace of violence and extremism that Shamima Begum, a 15-year-old schoolgirl from Bethnal Green, volunteered to enter in February 2015. After deceiving her parents and stealing her sister’s passport, the student headed A boarded a flight from Gatwick to. Istanbul, on the way to Syria. She joined ISIL, pledged allegiance to its cause, and married an ISIL fighter. For the next four years, she remained inside this terrorist world, losing three children in the process.
Begum’s plight has sparked fierce debate, with many arguing that she was too young to understand her actions, that she was cheated and betrayed, that she suffered enough and that it is “our” problem. These arguments, while emotionally compelling, fail when confronted with the unpleasant reality of what being a British citizen entails – and the eternal threat that the Begum represents.
Citizenship is not just a legal status; it is a covenant, an agreement that binds people to the nation and its customs. To betray that covenant so badly as to join a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Britain is to lose the privilege of being a citizen. Allowing Begum to return would be disrespectful to the sacrifices of British soldiers who fought and died to protect our freedom. It would send a message to the world that our values can be violated with impunity.
The legal basis behind Begum’s case is unclear. In 2019, the then Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, revoked his citizenship, a decision which was upheld by the Supreme Court. The evidence presented by MI5 was compelling: Begum presented a clear and present security risk. This risk was seen as negligible within the UK, beyond consideration of his age or commercial claims. It was not a decision made lightly but one rooted in the importance of protecting British lives. Having worked with MI5, I wholeheartedly supported their investigation.
It is also important to resolve the issue of statelessness. Critics say denying Begum British citizenship will leave her without a home. While this is undoubtedly a difficult outcome, it is not one that is determined arbitrarily. The court found that the security risks he faced outweighed whatever he had said about the benefits of being a citizen. Statelessness is a serious issue, but the UK is under no obligation to extend citizenship privileges to people associated with terrorism. There are currently 4 million stateless people in the world – they are supported by institutions but do not enjoy the benefits of citizenship. No country owes citizenship at all.
Begum’s own words give a chilling insight into her mind. He justified the Manchester Arena bombing as “revenge,” a claim that underscores the alliance he maintains with ISIL. While his youth at the time of his departure cannot be ignored, it does not relieve him of the burden. He made his decision knowingly and remained faithful for four years. This was not the behavior of a forced person but of a person who did it.
The case of Shamima Begum is not only a legal issue but also a moral and national issue. To allow him to return would be to undermine the integrity of the British public and undermine public security. It would sell the memory of those who perished at the hands of ISIL and the fighters who fought to end its terror.
Begum’s story is a cautionary tale, a stark reminder of the dangers of radicalization and the devastating consequences of misguided choices. But it’s also a line in the sand. For our safety, for our humanity, and for the memory of those we have lost, Shamima Begum must never be allowed to return. The price of our caution is high, but the price of complacency is much greater.
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