The UK’s terrorism expert has spoken in a personal manner to TNM, questioning whether Shamima Begum poses an ‘exceptional risk compared to others’ in the UK.
When asked whether Shamima Begum should return to the UK, Jonathan Hall KC says: “I think that’s a question I could only answer completely personally…Personally, I do understand that she was very young when she went out. And I do see that there are lots of risks in the UK, which we're capable of managing. And I do question personally, whether she is so exceptional compared to all those other risks.”
Jonathan Hall KC was appointed by the government in 2019 to make reports on terrorism laws which then go to Parliament.
The Home Office took Shamima Begum’s citizenship away in 2019 (she lost her passport and cannot return to the UK).
The watchdog also revealed in 2018 he asked permission to review deprivation of citizenship. He was denied permission but says he would still like to review decisions on repatriation and deprivation of citizenship.
Ultimately Jonathan does think people will start returning to the UK. “I do predict, although I don't have any special knowledge on this, I do predict that ultimately, the UK won't want to be so removed in its approach from its main European partners and allies. So I do think that there will be an increase at some stage I don't know when of the number of women and children who've been returned. And I do think that the the moral case for children is never going to go away.”
The Home Office say it remains their priority to maintain “the safety and security of the UK and we will robustly defend any decision made in doing so.”
ISIS CAMPS PUSHED TO BREAKING POINT
We recently visited the ISIS camps in Northern Syria.
We met with the SDF - who largely control this region of Syria, suspected British ISIS members and a Kurdish woman who went into the camp to help rehabilitate ISIS women.
You can watch it on YouTube here.