Ex-IS supporter will not be given back British citizenship

A 15-year-old woman from Great Britain who was recruited by the terrorist militia IS has again failed to get her citizenship back. Shamima Begum has been living in a refugee camp in Syria for several years, and she and her family have long campaigned for her return to London.

The case was followed in detail by the British tabloids in particular. Most recently, the British BBC also got involved and produced a much-discussed podcast "I'm not a Monster" with the young woman.

The UK Home Office did not act unlawfully when it refused entry to Begum and revoked his citizenship in 2019, a special tribunal ruled on Wednesday. This means that the 23-year-old from London, who is now 23, will return to her country of birth in the very distant future.

Begum claims she has never been involved in acts of terrorism. Her lawyers also argued that the government's decision failed to take into account the fact that Begum was trafficked for sexual exploitation when she was married to an adult jihadist. They also accused state authorities of breaching their duty by allowing Begum to cross several borders when he was a minor. However, according to the government lawyer, it is still considered a security risk.

Although the tribunal found it credible that Begum was a victim of sexual exploitation in Syria and acknowledged a breach of the state's duty of care when she left the country, it found no breach of the law in the denial of entry permits and the revocation of citizenship. The decision is seen as groundbreaking for similar cases.

The case is quite controversial in Great Britain, especially since the young woman lost three children during her time in Syria. The government stressed that Begum has not become stateless because she is also eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship.

The young woman was born in London as the daughter of immigrants from Bangladesh. She herself repeatedly emphasized that she did not even speak the language of the foreign country. The government of the South Asian country also denies that Begum has a right to citizenship. According to Begum, he faces the death penalty there.