Sunday, February 8, 2026
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-American Rajesh Subramaniam Named FedEx President

    Rajesh Subramaniam, an IIT-Bombay graduate from Thiruvananthapuram, has been with FedEx for more than 27 years.

    Indian-American Rajesh Subramaniam Named FedEx President

    Quebecer Confined In Cuba Says He's Been Convicted In Second Trial

    Toufik Benhamiche says in a statement that he was convicted in relation to the incident following a trial that took place on Dec. 10.

    Quebecer Confined In Cuba Says He's Been Convicted In Second Trial

    New Zealand-Based Woman Accuses Indian Husband Of Deceiving Her

    New Zealand-Based Woman Accuses Indian Husband Of Deceiving Her
    As I am unable to give out more money in shape of dowry, my husband is threatening of marrying someone else

    New Zealand-Based Woman Accuses Indian Husband Of Deceiving Her

    Pakistan Will Treat Minorities As Equals: Imran Khan’s Latest Jibe At India

    Pakistan Will Treat Minorities As Equals: Imran Khan’s Latest Jibe At India
    The controversy over the issue started when actor Naseeruddin Shah lamented the rise of mob violence in India over cow vigilantism and expressed fear over rising religious intolerance in the country.

    Pakistan Will Treat Minorities As Equals: Imran Khan’s Latest Jibe At India

    Yoga Gains Popularity In China, More Colleges To Come Up

    Yoga Gains Popularity In China, More Colleges To Come Up
    Nearly 100 yoga teaching and training centres would also be built to provide teacher training courses, yoga workshops and non-profit courses

    Yoga Gains Popularity In China, More Colleges To Come Up

    Hope For 1984 Victims, Say Lawyers After Sajjan Kumar Conviction

    Wheels of justice have started moving in the 1984 riots case, said the lawyers.

    Hope For 1984 Victims, Say Lawyers After Sajjan Kumar Conviction