Close X
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
ADVT 
International

Baby Of Teen Shamima Begum, Who Lost UK Citizenship After Joining ISIS, May Have Died

IANS, 09 Mar, 2019 12:34 AM

    The new-born baby of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who fled to join ISIS, is likely to have died, according to her family's lawyer.


    The lawyer, Mohammed Akunjee, on Twitter said the family has received unconfirmed reports from within her refugee camp in the Middle East that her baby named Jerah has died.


    "We have strong but as yet unconfirmed reports that Shamima Begum's son has died. He was a British Citizen," Mr Akunjee wrote.


    As the baby was born while Ms Begum was still a British national, his status remains that of a British national.


    The news of his possible death follows a plea from Ms Begum's London-based family to UK home secretary Sajid Javid to assist them in bringing the baby back to the UK based on his rights as a British citizen.


    It was in reaction to the minister's decision to revoke 19-year-old Begum's British citizenship on security grounds, indicating that she would have the right to acquire Bangladeshi citizenship by virtue of her parents' heritage.


    "My number one job is to do whatever I can to keep this country safe," Mr Javid had said last month when announcing the revocation of citizenship.


    Ms Begum's son was born on February 17, days after she was tracked down heavily-pregnant by in a refugee camp in Syria. She told reporters at the time that she had already lost two babies -- one to malnutrition and another to ill-health -- during her time with ISIS and pleaded with the UK government to allow her and her new-born baby to return to the Britain.


    "I would like them to re-evaluate my case with a bit more mercy in their heart. I am willing to change," she said, following the revocation of her citizenship.


    She was 15 when she fled to join ISIS in February 2015 and married Dutch ISIS recruit Yago Riedijk. Her 27-year-old husband, who is being held in a Kurdish detention centre in north-eastern Syria, recently said in a media interview that he wanted his wife and baby to be allowed to return to the Netherlands.


    Both the Netherlands and Bangladesh have since denied that Shamima Begum would have a right to entry into either country.


    Earlier this week, her father Ahmed Ali, who now lives in Bangladesh, blamed the UK authorities for failing to prevent Ms Begum fleeing the country on her sister's passport.


    "The British immigration system is very informed, the most informed system in the world. I always say how did (Shamima) get there using another person's passport? She doesn't even have her own passport. These matters should be investigated," the 60-year-old said, urging the UK to allow his daughter to return and face the British legal system.


    Under international law, the UK can revoke a citizenship of a British national only if the individual would not be made stateless.


    Ms Begum's British citizenship was revoked on the grounds that she is eligible for citizenship of Bangladesh until the age of 21 through her parents' Bangladeshi dual nationality.


    But Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since ruled out such a possibility of her being considered for Bangladeshi citizenship.


    Ms Begum is currently believed to be in a refugee camp closer to the Iraqi border after being removed from the Al-Hol camp in the north of Syria due to alleged threats.

     

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian Diaspora Has Dramatically Changed World's Perception Of Indians: Sushma Swaraj

    Indian Diaspora Has Dramatically Changed World's Perception Of Indians: Sushma Swaraj
    External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Monday that diaspora community has changed the world's perception about Indians.

    Indian Diaspora Has Dramatically Changed World's Perception Of Indians: Sushma Swaraj

    Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris Says She'll Run For President

    Kamala Harris, a Senator of Indian descent, announced on Monday that she is running for President in the 2020 elections branding herself a "fighter" for the American people.

    Indian-American Senator Kamala Harris Says She'll Run For President

    Trump Announces Intent To Appoint Indian-American Prem Parameswaran To Advisory Committee

    Parameswaran, 50, is the only Indian-American among the 12 members the president intends to appoint to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.    

    Trump Announces Intent To Appoint Indian-American Prem Parameswaran To Advisory Committee

    Indian-Origin Man Charged With Woman's Murder In Singapore

    Indian-Origin Man Charged With Woman's Murder In Singapore
    A 34-year-old Indian-origin man was on Friday charged with the murder of a woman, who was found dead in a rented apartment here, according to a media report.

    Indian-Origin Man Charged With Woman's Murder In Singapore

    Pakistan National Carrier PIA Bans Entertainment On Flights To Saudi Arabia

    Pakistan National Carrier PIA Bans Entertainment On Flights To Saudi Arabia
    The Pakistan International Airlines has banned in-flight entertainment for pilgrims travelling to Jeddah and Madina and will only play Quranic verses and naats for them, an official of the national carrier said on Thursday.

    Pakistan National Carrier PIA Bans Entertainment On Flights To Saudi Arabia

    White House Considering India-Born Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi To Head World Bank

    Indian-American business leader Indra Nooyi, who headed the multinational PepsiCo, is under consideration for heading the World Bank, according to multiple media reports.

    White House Considering India-Born Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi To Head World Bank