Politics

Shamima Begum: UK says 'decisions have consequences' as ISIS bride's baby dies


The UK government bluntly declared “decisions have consequences” today after ISIS bride Shamima Begum’s baby died in a refugee camp.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt faced down an outcry over the UK’s treatment of the radical Islamist who fled London when she was just 15.

On Friday it was confirmed her weeks-old boy Jarrah, a British citizen, died in a refugee camp – after the UK made a botched bid to strip his mother of her UK citizenship.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said Shamima, 19, blasted the UK government’s behaviour as “morally reprehensible”.

And she slammed Tory Cabinet minister Sajid Javid, saying: “The Home Secretary failed this British child and he has a lot to answer for.”

But Foreign Secretary Mr Hunt today defended the decision not to send UK officials to the camp, visited by multiple journalists, to rescue the child.

“I’m afraid those decisions, awful though it is, they do have consequences”

 

He said “it’s an incredibly distressing and sad situation” and “we have been trying to do everything we can” – highlighting the role of UK foreign aid.

But Mr Hunt told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “This is a war zone.

“The mother chose to leave a free country to join a terrorist organisation.

“And we have to think about the safety of the British officials I would send into that war zone as a representative of the government.

“Shamima knew when she made the decision to join Daesh she was going into a country where there was no embassy, no consular assistance.

“And I’m afraid those decisions, awful though it is, they do have consequences.”

Labour are demanding Home Secretary Sajid Javid answer questions in an urgent House of Commons debate

Labour are demanding Home Secretary Sajid Javid answer questions in an urgent House of Commons debate from 3.30pm tomorrow.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “This was a wrong decision and a rushed decision by the Home Secretary.

“The Home Secretary needs to come to Parliament tomorrow and make a statement on this and face questions.

“There is a growing feeling this decision wasn’t properly made and the tragic consequences now are that a newborn child has died.”

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Meanwhile it was reported that more jihadi brides being held with their children in Syrian refugee camps have been stripped of their British citizenship.

According to The Sunday Times, two women, who between them have five boys under the age of eight, had their UK nationality removed after marrying into a terror cell linked to the murder of western hostages.

The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

A spokesman added: “Any decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are based on all available evidence and not taken lightly.”

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