Britain could be forced to take ISIS bride Shamima Begum after all as Bangladesh and Netherlands slam the door on her

BRITAIN could be forced to take in runaway ISIS bride Shamima Begum after Bangladesh said they just don't want her.

The country said the teen is not a Bangladeshi citizen so there is “no question” of her being allowed in – despite Britain’s move to strip her of her UK citizenship.

"The Government of Bangladesh is deeply concerned that she has been erroneously identified as a holder of dual citizenship shared with Bangladesh alongside her birthplace, the United Kingdom," tweeted minister of state for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam.

"Bangladesh asserts that Ms Shamima Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen. She is a British citizen by birth and has never applied for dual nationality with Bangladesh.

"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."

The Home Office had claimed she has dual British-Bangladesh nationality due to her parents being from Bangladesh.This has been denied by the Begum family's solicitor.

The news came just hours before the Home Secretary Sajid Javid appeared on TV to say he would not make a decision which "would leave that individual stateless."

Last night the Home Office confirmed to the Sun Online it could NOT strip someone of British citizenship if it left them stateless.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “In recent days the Home Secretary has clearly stated that his priority is the safety and security of Britain and the people who live here.

 “In order to protect this country, he has the power to deprive someone of their British citizenship where it would not render them stateless.

 “We do not comment on individual cases, but any decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are based on all available evidence and not taken lightly.”

 

And speaking on ITV's Peston tonight the Home Secretary was asked if Begum would retain her British citizenship now Bangladesh have ruled out allowing her into the country.

He said: “I’m not aware of any Home Secretary in any party in any previous government that has taken a decision that would leave anyone stateless… I’m not going to talk about an individual, but I can be clear on the point that I would not take a decision and I believe none of my predecessors ever have taken a decision that at the point the decision is taken would leave that individual stateless.”

ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston then asked Mr Javid what he thought of calls to bring the teenager back to face the UK's justice system.

He replied: "My number one job is to do whatever I can to keep this country safe and I admit that sometimes when you make these decisions they are not easy decisions.

"They can be very tough decisions, so many things to weigh up about the mortality of a decision, the legality of a decision, how it can have a huge impact on someone's life."

He added: "I have to go to bed at night and think 'have I done everything I could to keep this country safe?'"

Holland has also slammed the door on Begum saying she does not fit the criteria for citizenship as she does not have the right documents and it doesn't offer sanctuary to those who have returned from Syria.

The runaway teen had reportedly planned to get back with her Dutch jihadi husband and make a new life in the Netherlands after being stripped of British citizenship.

I have to go to bed at night and think 'have I done everything I could to keep this country safe?'

Earlier she said: "Another option I might try with my family is my husband is from Holland and he has family in Holland.

"Maybe I can ask for citizenship in Holland. If he gets sent back to prison in Holland I can just wait for him while he is in prison."

Earlier it was revealed her baby may be offered sanctuary in Britain – even if she isn't.

The Home Secretary told the Commons children "should not suffer" – and explained a parent losing citizenship doesn't affect the rights of a child.

As it now looks like the baby's mother has nowhere to go and, as it is illegal under international law to deprive someone of their nationality if it leaves them stateless, she may return to Britain after all.

The teenager, who fled the UK to join the terror group in 2015, had asked the Home Secretary to allow her to return to raise her baby.

Footage published by ITV showed her reading a copy of the Home Office "citizenship" letter her parents received yesterday.

It stated: "In light of the circumstances of your daughter, the notice of the Home Secretary's decision has been served of file today (19th February), and the order removing her British citizenship has subsequently been made."


Begum responded by saying she would like Home Secretary Sajid Javid to "review my case again and have a bit more sympathy for me and understanding, and you know, maybe give me a reason why they see me as a threat to the UK".

She added: "I'm a bit shocked… It's a bit unjust on me and my son."

Her comments come despite openly admitting she doesn't regret joining ISIS, that the Manchester Arena bomb attack was "justified" and that she hopes to be reunited with her jihadi husband.

The 19-year-old, who gave birth to her baby boy on Sunday, said she had not been informed of the decision prior to seeing the letter.

She added: "I don't know what to say. I am not that shocked but I am a bit shocked. It’s a bit upsetting and frustrating.

"It’s kind of heartbreaking to read. My family made it sound like it would be a lot easier for me to come back to the UK when I was speaking to them in Baghouz. It’s kind of hard to swallow.

"I heard that other people are being sent back to Britain so I don’t know why my case is any different to other people, or is it just because I was on the news four years ago?"

She then suggested she might try use her marriage to Dutch jihadi Yago Riedijk as a means of gaining citizenship in Europe.

"Another option I might try with my family is my husband is from Holland and he has family in Holland.

"Maybe I can ask for citizenship in Holland. If he gets sent back to prison in Holland I can just wait for him while he is in prison."

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