Shamima Begum's mother seeks 'mercy' for daughter from Britain after baby's death

Shamima Begum's mother seeks 'mercy' for daughter from Britain after baby's death

ISIS bride Shamima Begum's mother is reportedly seeking "mercy" for her 19-year-old daughter from British officials after the teenager's newborn died last week in a Syrian refugee camp.

The 19-year-old, who left Britain to join the Islamic State in 2015, made headlines last month after she expressed a desire to return to the UK after fleeing to Syria.

After being tracked to the refugee camp in Northern Syria, she told the Times: "All I want to do is come back to Britain." With a fierce debate raging whether to allow her back, Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced that Begum's British citizenship had been stripped and she was not allowed to come  back.

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However, Begum's mother's lawyer on Monday said that they have written to the Home Office pleading that they give "mercy" to the 19-year-old and reconsider her situation after the death of her baby, which was born in the camp a few weeks ago, Sky News reported.

"We write specifically on behalf of Mrs Begum, Shamima Begum's mother to ask you to reconsider your previous decision dated 19 February 2019 to deprive her daughter Begum of her British citizenship..." the letter said.

"Ms Begum requests this reconsideration, as an act of mercy, on the basis of the following new information, namely the death of her new-born son. It is extremely unlikely that Shamima will be in a fit state to make any rational decisions," it added.

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The lawyers also argued that there were "immediate fears for Shamima's health and safety" as she continued to remain in the warzone, according to reports. They said that the mercy plea for Shamima Begum was to "avoid further tragedy."

The famiiles of Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, the three missing schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State, pose after being interviewed by the media at New Scotland Yard, after pleading for them to return home, on February 22, 2015 in London, England. (Getty Images)
The famiiles of Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, the three missing schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State, pose after being interviewed by the media at New Scotland Yard, after pleading for them to return home, on February 22, 2015 in London, England. (Getty Images)

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After fleeing to Syria, Begum reportedly married a Dutch ISIS fighter named Yago Riedijk three weeks after she arrived. Her first two children died from illness and malnutrition and she had wanted to come back to the UK because she was pregnant again and was concerned about her third child.

However, shortly after reports of Begum wanting to come back to the UK came out, Home Secretary Javid announced that her British citizenship had been stripped and the 19-year-old was not allowed to come back.

The announcement was made after she called the 2017 Manchester Arena massacre of 22 people attending a pop concert “justified", which sparked a row over whether she should be allowed to come back into the country or not.

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Latest reports have revealed that the citizenship of two other ISIS brides, who left from the UK in 2013, have also been stripped off. They were identified as Reema Iqbal, 30, and her sister Zara, 28, from east London.

(EDITORS NOTE: FACE IN PHOTO BEING HELD DELIBERATELY COVERED BY SISTER) Renu Begum, eldest sister of Shamima Begum, 15, holds her sister's photo as she is interviewed by the media at New Scotland Yard, as the relatives of three missing schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State have pleaded for them to return home, on February 22, 2015 in London, England. (Getty Images)
(EDITORS NOTE: FACE IN PHOTO BEING HELD DELIBERATELY COVERED BY SISTER) Renu Begum, eldest sister of Shamima Begum, 15, holds her sister's photo as she is interviewed by the media at New Scotland Yard, as the relatives of three missing schoolgirls believed to have fled to Syria to join Islamic State have pleaded for them to return home, on February 22, 2015 in London, England. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Begum's father, speaking from Bangladesh, on Sunday begged the UK to forgive her and said that she should never have been allowed to leave Britain. His statement came days after he said that the UK government had made the right decision in revoking his daughter's citizenship. 

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 ISIS bride Shamima Begum's mother demands mercy for her daughter from Britain baby's death Syria refugee camp