A LONDON teenager who joined the Daesh (Islamic State) group in Syria was on Wednesday (20) facing the prospect of being stateless after Britain revoked her citizenship and authorities in Bangladesh, where her family is from, said they would not take her in.
Shamima Begum travelled to Syria in 2015 aged just 15, but after giving birth in a refugee camp last weekend, she wants to come home.
Now 19, Begum said she was "shocked" at the decision by Britain to revoke her citizenship, a move announced in a letter to her family in Britain, according to their lawyer.
It was reported that she could be eligible for automatic citizenship in Bangladesh, where her mother is believed to be from, but the foreign ministry in Dhaka rejected this.
"She is a British citizen by birth and has never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh," it said. "It may also be mentioned that she never visited Bangladesh in the past despite her parental lineage. So, there is no question of her being allowed to enter into Bangladesh."
Speaking to the BBC in the refugee camp in eastern Syria, where she arrived after fleeing fighting between the Daesh and US-backed forces, Begum said she was British.
"I have one citizenship... and if you take that away from me, I don't have anything. I don't think they are allowed to do that," she said.
She had earlier told ITV News that Britain's decision was "unjust", but said she might consider applying for citizenship in The Netherlands.
Her husband, a Daesh fighter believed to be held by Kurdish forces in Syria, is Dutch.
"Maybe I can ask for citizenship in Holland," said Begum. "If he gets sent back to prison in Holland I can just wait for him while he is in prison."
The Dutch authorities refused to comment but experts said Begum stood little chance of being accepted because she would have to satisfy a stringent list of requirements.
Her family's lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee said he was "considering all legal avenues to challenge" Britain's decision.
Begum's fate has stirred controversy since she and two school friends fled her east London home to join the terror network four years ago.
The case highlights a dilemma facing many European countries, divided over whether to allow jihadists and Daesh sympathisers home to face prosecution or bar them over security concerns as the so-called "caliphate" crumbles.
Home secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers Wednesday that revoking citizenship was "a powerful tool" not used lightly.
"But when someone turns their back on (our) fundamental values and supports terror they don't have an automatic right to return to the UK," he said.
Javid, however, noted that he would not take a decision that would leave anyone stateless.
Asked whether that meant she would now retain her British citizenship, Javid told ITV late on Wednesday: "I'm not going to talk about an individual, but I can be clear on the point that I would not take a decision ... that at the point the decision is taken would leave that individual stateless."
He has previously said that more than 100 individuals had already been deprived of their British citizenship.
Javid noted on Wednesday that international law that means Britain can only do this if it will not leave the person stateless, if they are a dual national or "in some limited circumstances they have the right to citizenship elsewhere".
Javid hinted that Begum's newborn son -- her third child, after her previous son and daughter died in recent months -- could be treated differently.
"Children should not suffer, so if a parent does lose their British citizenship it does not affect the rights of their child," the minister said.
Begum appealed to British authorities to show "compassion" by allowing her to raise the baby in Britain.
But she inflamed public opinion back home by saying in her first interview with The Times last week that she had no regrets about joining the jihadists.
In her latest BBC interview, she expressed more remorse.
"I was hoping Britain would understand I made a mistake, a very big mistake, because I was young and naive," she said.
Begum was born in Britain, has never had a Bangladeshi passport and is not a dual citizen, her family's lawyer said.
The BBC reported however that she may have automatic right to Bangladeshi citizenship until she is 21, through a parent.
(with AFP)
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)