Shamima Begum is a denaturalized British lady who joined ISIL in Syria at the age of 15. Her desire to return to the UK in 2019 sparked a public discussion about terrorist returnees. In February 2019, the British government revoked her British citizenship and said she would never be permitted to return. The Court of Appeal also determined in July 2020 that Shamima should be allowed to return to the UK to properly challenge the judgment. On February 26, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled in favor of the Home Secretary in Begum v Home Secretary.
Shamima Begum promises to assist UK combat terror
Shamima Begum says she would always regret joining ISIS and has pledged to assist the UK battle terrorism. She told the BBC she might be “useful to society” and that a Syrian camp would be a waste. Also speaking to BBC Sounds and 5 live, Ms. Begum admitted to being nervous about expressing her actual sentiments. If permitted back into the UK, she claimed she could advise on IS strategies to encourage individuals to travel to Syria and ways to communicate to persons at danger of radicalization. So she did it, saying she didn’t want other young females to make the same mistakes she made. On Wednesday, Ms. Shamima offered Boris Johnson the opportunity to be “an asset” in the battle against terrorism.
Begum claimed there was “no proof” she was a crucial participant in organizing terrorist attacks and she was ready to defend herself in court. “I know there are certain individuals who will never think I have changed or wish to assist,” she stated. I regret every choice I’ve taken since entering Syria, and I will live with it for the rest of my life, I tell those who have pity, compassion, and empathy in their hearts. The only thing I can say is “I’m sorry and please give me a second opportunity.” “The only crime I did was being stupid enough to join IS,” she stated. For her part, she is “ready to go to court and confront those who made these charges and dispute them, since I am a mother and a wife and that is all I did in IS”.
Famous For
- A denaturalized British-born lady.
- For joining ISIL in Syria at the age of 15.
Shamima Begum’s Origins
Shamima Begum initially saw light on August 25, 1999 in England, UK. Her ethnicity is Bangladeshi and she is British. Her ethnicity is black and her faith is Islam. Begum became 22 in 2021. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. Her father is Ahmed Ali and her mother’s name is unknown. Her sister is Aklima Begum.
Shamima Begum, together with her pals Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana, fled the UK in February 2015, aged 15, to join Daesh in Syria through Turkey. Their school mates had gone to ISIL territory to fetch back their classmate Sharmeena Begum, who had gone in 2014. Everyone hoped and prayed for the three girls’ safe return to the UK in February 2015.
Shamima Begum’s Career
Return plan
According to “The Times'” war reporter Anthony Loyd, Shamima Begum planned to return to the UK to raise her kid but joined ISIL.
Forgiveness and sympathy for “certain British traditions” were her themes in an interview with BBC journalist Quentin Sommerville on February 18. Affirming that it was immoral to murder innocent people, she said ISIL justified the attack as punishment for coalition airstrikes on ISIL-held regions. “Shia do the same in Iraq,” she said when asked about Yazidi women’s rape, slavery, and murder.
In such a case, the UK government could not lawfully strip her of her British citizenship. The UK authorities argued that Begum was eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship and was not stateless. The Bangladeshi government said Shamima does not have Bangladeshi citizenship and cannot enter the country.
“If she at least recognized she made a mistake, then I and others would feel terrible for her,” her father Ahmed Ali remarked on February 24th. Begum replied by apologizing for speaking to the media and accusing the UK of humiliating her.
The Syrian Democratic Forces stated on March 8th that Begum’s son Jarrah died in hospital from illness.
She accused the UK government for preventing Begum’s return to the UK for her son’s death.
The British Government’s legal argument
Making citizens stateless is illegal according to both UK national law (British Nationality Act 1981 section 40) and UN international law (1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness), of which the UK is a signatory.
Begum was given Legal Aid to contest the loss of her British citizenship on April 15th.
According to Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abdul Momen, if Begum visited Bangladesh, she would face the death sentence owing to the country’s “zero-tolerance stance” against terrorism.
The Metropolitan Police asked the BBC, ITN, Sky News, and “The Times” to turn over any unpublished information regarding Shamima Begum in August 2019. A prospective prosecution requires disclosure under the Terrorism Act 2000.
This verdict was later overturned by the Court of Appeal on 16th July 2020.
On February 26, 2021, the UK Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Home Secretary in Begum v Home Secretary.
Shamima Begum’s Relationship Status
Shamima Begum is a wife. She married Yago Riedijk, a Dutchman, in 2015. Yago is a Syrian Muslim who came in October 2014. Due to her age, this marriage may not be recognized by Dutch law. Her youngest child, born in a refugee camp in February 2019, died of a lung illness in March 2019. Her sexual orientation is heterosexual.
Shamima Begum’s Net Worth
Shamima Begum’s actual net worth is unknown, however we may presume it is in the thousands by 2021. She also hasn’t done any brand endorsements yet. Her income is unknown since she is a convicted felon.
Shamima Begum’s Body Measurements
Shamima Begum is 1.65m (5ft 4in) tall and weighs 54kg (119 lbs.). She has dark brown eyes and black hair. Her physical measurements are 34-24-35 inches and she has a thin physique.
Do you Know?
- Shamima is Bangladeshi.
- In February 2019, the British government revoked her British citizenship.
- On February 26, 2021, the Supreme Court of the UK ruled in favor of the Home Secretary in Begum v Home Secretary.
- Virgo is her sign.
- She joined ISIL in Syria at the age of 15.