Diane Abbott blames British government for death of 'ISIS bride' Shamima Begum's infant son

Diane Abbott blames British government for death of 'ISIS bride' Shamima Begum's infant son

The Syrian Democratic Forces have confirmed that Jihadi ISIS bride Shamima Begum' baby son died in northern Syria on Friday.

Earlier today, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott reacted to the news on Twitter and placed the blame for the baby's death on Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Daily Mail reports.

"It is against international law to make someone stateless, and now an innocent child has died as a result of a British woman being stripped of her citizenship," she tweeted. "This is callous and inhumane."

 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott visit Finsbury Park mosque on 'Visit Your Mosque Day', on March 03, 2019 in London, England. A man was killed near the mosque during an attack by far right extremist Darren Osborne in June 2017.
 Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott visit Finsbury Park mosque on 'Visit Your Mosque Day', on March 03, 2019 in London, England. A man was killed near the mosque during an attack by far right extremist Darren Osborne in June 2017.
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According to Abbott, if Shamima Begum had been allowed to return to the UK, the tragedy could have been avoided. "This week a British baby died from pneumonia in a Syrian refugee camp," she said. "A tragedy that might have been avoided. If the mother & baby had been brought home, the mother Shamima Begum would have faced British justice, but the baby might have lived. Sajid Javid has behaved shamefully."

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Javid was fiercely defended by Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis over his decision to strip the runaway ISIS sympathizer of her British citizenship. In a conversation with BBC's Radio 4 Today, Lewis said, "The loss of any life of any child is absolutely tragic and is a very clear reminder - this whole case - of the danger of traveling out to that area and getting involved. The Home Secretary will have had advice and I know he made a decision based on what is in the national interest and the security of people here in the UK. There is no question that the duty of a home secretary in this country is to keep British people safe."

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Home Secretary Sajid Javid arrives for the weekly Cabinet meeting at Number 10 Downing Street on February 5, 2019, in London, England. (Getty)
Home Secretary Sajid Javid arrives for the weekly Cabinet meeting at Number 10 Downing Street on February 5, 2019, in London, England. (Getty)

The baby, named Jarrah, reportedly died on Friday after suffering breathing difficulties and a lung infection, a paramedic working for the Kurdish Red Crescent told the BBC. According to him, he was rushed to a doctor before being transferred to a hospital but died at 1.30 pm local time that day despite their best efforts to save him.

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A friend of Begum said that Jarrah, who was believed to have been 18 days old, had "turned blue and was cold." Tasnime Akunjee, the lawyer representing Begum's family, retweeted Diane Abbott's message, adding that the baby "was a British citizen."

At the time the news broke, Mustafa Bali, the spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), had refuted such claims and said the baby was "alive and healthy." However, soon after insiders in the Roj camp where Begum was living confirmed his death, he deleted the post. Jarrah was born to 19-year-old Begum in a refugee camp last month. She had already lost two children to illness and malnutrition prior to his death, with reports claiming even they had suffered breathing issues.

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 Labour Diane Abbott blames Home Secretary Sajid Javid death Jihadi bride Shamima Begum baby son