Shamima Begum's lawyer to take British citizenship case to the European Court of Human Rights

7 August 2024, 17:44 | Updated: 7 August 2024, 18:01

Shamima Begum's lawyers have indicated they will take her British citizenship case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Shamima Begum's lawyers have indicated they will take her British citizenship case to the European Court of Human Rights. Picture: Getty

By Henry Moore

Shamima Begum's lawyers have indicated they will take her British citizenship case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Begum's case in the UK came to a close today after the Supreme Court refused to hear the 24-year-old's appeal against the removal of her British citizenship.

The court ruled "the grounds of appeal do not raise an arguable point of law.”

Ms Begum’s lawyers argued that the 2019 decision to revoke her British Citizenship was unlawful on four grounds.

Firstly, they argued she was trafficked as a 15-year-old, something authorities should have prevented.

Secondly, the legal team said Ms Begum had the right to speak to the home secretary before having her citizenship revoked, something she was denied.

But the Supreme Court said that right "would be liable to undermine the effectiveness of such a decision in cases concerned with national security"

Read more: Shamima Begum loses last ditch Supreme Court appeal against removal of British citizenship

Last year, Ms Begum lost her first appeal against the decision to revoke her citizenship on national security grounds at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), after she was found in a Syrian refugee camp following her travel to the country as a 15-year-old in 2015.

Earlier this year, three judges at the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed her bid to overturn the SIAC decision.

Begum travelled to Syria in 2015 aged 15 and her citizenship was revoked on national security grounds.It came shortly after she was found in a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019.

Last year, the now 24-year-old lost a challenge against the decision at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).

Her lawyers went on to bring a bid to overturn that decision at the Court of Appeal, with the Home Office opposing the challenge.

Read more: Shamima Begum loses bid to challenge removal of British citizenship at Supreme Court

Speaking in February, Dame Sue Carr, who was one of the appeal judges ruling on the case, said that they agreed with the commission's decision on Begum's citizenship.

"Ms Begum may well have been influenced and manipulated by others but still have made a calculated decision to travel to Syria and align with ISIL," she said.

She added: "It could be argued the decision in Ms Begum's case was harsh. It could also be argued that Ms Begum is the author of her own misfortune.

"But it is not for this court to agree or disagree with either point of view.

"The only task of the court was to assess whether the deprivation decision was unlawful. Since it was not, Ms Begum's appeal is dismissed."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Close up of a Police logo on a police officers uniform in Leeds,WEst Yorkshire,UK

Norwegian teenager arrested after being caught with guns in Yorkshire hotel room

x

UK should not 'jump in with both feet' to retaliate against Trump trade tariffs, PM urges

Wahib

'Jealous and controlling husband' who tried to cut wife's head off before leaving her to bleed to death jailed for life

Ashbourne Derbyshire England UK.

Two dead after aircraft crash in Derbyshire, as police tell public to avoid the area

The Government must “invest in childhood” or risk losing the next generation to poor mental health, a charity has warned.

Invest in childhood ‘or risk losing a generation to poor mental health’, charity warns

US-ECONOMY-MARKET-STOCKS

Relief for financial markets as stocks rebound from historic losses days on from tariff turmoil

XL Bullies Being Walked On Private Land After Ban

XL Bully mauled two people after being ordered to ‘kill’ by owner as victims left with 'horrific injuries'

Kerri Pegg, former governor of HMP Kirkham,

Prison governor guilty of misconduct after relationship with drug boss 'Jesse Pinkman' who gifted her £12k Mercedes

Emergency services search for survivors after the ceiling collapsed in Dominican Republic

At least 44 killed after nightclub ceiling collapses in Dominican Republic as desperate hunt for survivors launched

Westfield Stratford City shopping center, London England United Kingdom UK

Two teenage boys charged after seat thrown from third floor of Westfield shopping centre

Elton John and Madonna 'bury the hatchet' after decades-long feud

Elton John and Madonna 'bury the hatchet' after decades-long feud

Zelenskyy shared the video of the alleged Chinese soldier on Telegram

Two Chinese soldiers captured fighting in Ukraine - and Zelenskyy says he wants US and Europe to respond

Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim was fatally stabbed in Huddersfield

Boy, 16, fatally stabbed in Huddersfield was refugee who fled Syria and dreamed of becoming doctor

Yossi Benayoun

Former Premier League star 'survives grenade attack on home'

New Scotland Yard

Serving Met Police officer charged with four counts of rape

FILE - A North Korean military guard post, top, and South Korean post, bottom, are seen from Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

South Korean military fire at North Korean soldiers 'crossing demarcation line'