A government minister has confirmed there are “no plans” to revisit the question of Shamima Begum’s return to the UK, amid growing concerns that Kurdish forces may soon abandon the refugee camp where she is currently being held.
Begum, who left the UK in 2015 at the age of 15 to join ISIS in Syria, had her British citizenship revoked in 2019 due to national security risks. She is believed to be living in the Al Roj camp, a temporary, overcrowded and unsanitary facility home to thousands of ISIS affiliates, many of whom enforce extremist ideologies through threats and violence. Al Roj is one of several camps where foreign nationals, including Begum, have been detained by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish militia backed by the US.
Pat McFadden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, firmly ruled out revisiting Begum’s case when questioned on Sky News, saying there were “no plans” to review her situation at this time. McFadden’s statement comes despite growing fears that, with Islamist rebel forces making significant territorial gains in Syria, Kurdish forces may abandon these camps, leaving them vulnerable to ISIS re-establishment.
The 24-year-old Begum lost an appeal last year at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) after her citizenship was revoked. In August, the UK’s highest court dismissed her legal challenge to return, following an earlier defeat in February at the Court of Appeal. Now, her legal team hopes to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Concerns are rising over the fate of Begum and the other detainees in the camps, especially as Syrian civil war tensions escalate. Sir Alex Younger, the former head of MI6, warned that the collapse of these camps could pose a severe security threat to the UK. He highlighted the potential radicalisation of detainees if the SDF were to withdraw their support.
Al Roj, where Begum was relocated after being found in the nearby Al Hol camp, is home to approximately 2,600 detainees from 55 countries, many of whom are ISIS brides and their children. The presence of these individuals in camps is seen as a potential breeding ground for further extremism.
The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing Syrian conflict, with Islamist rebels recently seizing full control of Aleppo. Parts of Syria’s northeast remain under Kurdish control, where they continue to manage the detention camps with the help of US military personnel. However, fears abound that the US may pull its forces out of Syria, leaving a power vacuum that could jeopardise the stability of the region, including the camps holding ISIS affiliates.
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If the Kurdish forces were to abandon the camps, it could prompt an influx of ISIS detainees and further destabilise an already volatile region. Sir Alex emphasized the importance of ensuring the stability of eastern Syria to maintain control over these prisoners and prevent further radicalisation.
Meanwhile, as the Syrian civil war continues to shift dramatically, the Assad regime faces increasing setbacks. Rebel forces have seized key areas, including the capital, Damascus, and there are reports of a power vacuum emerging as Assad’s government crumbles. In northern Syria, Turkey’s forces have engaged in skirmishes with Kurdish groups, adding further complications to an already fragmented region.
The broader impact of Syria’s disintegration on the UK’s security is evident, with intelligence officials monitoring the situation closely. Sir Alex expressed concerns that the potential collapse of the camps, coupled with a withdrawal of Kurdish forces, could lead to an uptick in terrorism threats against the UK.
In the midst of these developments, Israel has also been active, conducting airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites to prevent extremists from acquiring dangerous materials. This complex and fluid situation continues to evolve, with the UK and its allies working to navigate the potential risks posed by ISIS detainees and the broader instability in Syria.
The fate of Shamima Begum remains uncertain, as legal battles continue, but for now, the UK government has made it clear that there are no plans to allow her return, despite the escalating risks in the region.
