Reform UK party members have fumed at the “unfair” and “completely wrong” prospect of Shamima Begum returning to the UK, following recent comments made by Nigel Farage about the ISIS bride’s potential homecoming.
Begum, a 25-year old woman originally from London, had her citizenship revoked after she joined the terror group in 2015.
Begum, a 25-year old woman originally from London, had her citizenship revoked after she joined the terror group in 2015.
She has been held in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Force Roj detention camp in north-eastern Syria for the past five years.
Born and raised in Tower Hamlets in east London, Begum married an IS fighter after travelling to Syria and had three children, all of whom died young
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Yesterday, Farage told ITV News he was “thoughtful” about allowing Begum to return to the UK, despite previously opposing such a move.
“I’ve never wanted to. I’ve instinctively never wanted to. But I’m now thoughtful, I’m thoughtful. I don’t classify her as an ISIS, an all out ISIS killer.”
Reform UK members told GB News at the party’s South East England conference on Friday that Begum needs to “face the consequences” of her actions.
Asked whether Begum should be allowed to return to the UK, Cameron Griffin, 20, said: “Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. If they are willing to work against the UK and then they want to come back all of a sudden, then I’m sorry, but you can’t be doing that.
“You are willingly going and supporting a group that is against the interests of the UK, that has committed terrorist acts that killed innocent people. That is completely wrong. You should have your citizenship revoked and it should stay that way.
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Cameron Griffin said she should ‘absolutely not’ be allowed to return
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Graham Dennis said Begum ‘knew what she was doing at the time’
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“You knew what you were doing, but now it’s all falling out of your favour. You want to come back? Crawling back with your tail between your legs? That is completely unfair.”
His stance was mirrored by Graham Dennis, 71, who said Begum “knew what she was doing at the time”.
The 71-year-old told the People’s Channel: “I don’t think she should be allowed back because if you do that, then they’re gonna let everybody back, aren’t they?
“I think it’s wrong. She’s done what she’s done. She knew what she was doing at the time, and. She’s got to take the consequences.”
Jim, 52, said: “Absolutely not. This is something I don’t agree with and this is where my support falls off.”
Discussing the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad, Jim questioned what would happen to all those who left Syria due to opposition against the regime.
“What’s stopping them from going back? The regime has now been toppled, so can’t people go back home now?”
The Reform UK leader’s comments followed statements from Donald Trump’s former terror chief Seb Gorka suggesting ISIS members could be allowed to return to Western countries.
He said that any nation that wishes to be a “serious ally” to the US should honour its “commitment” to the international fight against ISIS by taking back its citizens.
Shamima Begum travelled to Syria from London in February 2015Getty
Nigel Farage said he is ‘thoughtful’ about the Shamima Begum situation
PA
Gorka said this “doubly” applies to Britain, and by doing so, the UK would solidify the strong ties between the two countries under Trump’s incoming second term in the Oval Office.
Responding to Gorka’s comments, Farage said: “Gorka argues that if we and other European countries don’t take back these people and put them in prison here, they will get out of prison under the new Syrian regime, leading to a problem that in the end we may all have to fight.”
He added: “I think what Gorka has done is started a debate, not one that I wanted to have and not one the British Government wanted to have. But now we’re going to have to. And he’s got a point. Regrettably, yes.”
Marina, 39, told GB News that with Assad now gone, “we don’t know what will fill the void”, and that discussions would be inevitable of what to do next.
Kemi Badenoch blasted Farage for his comments, stating: “A Conservative Government led by me will never take back terrorists like Shamima Begum who have been stripped of their citizenship.
“Actions must have consequences or there is no deterrent. Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. It’s not an international travel document for crime tourism.”
Party chairman Zia Yusuf jumped to Farage’s defence, urging people to examine “exactly what Nigel Farage said” about the ISIS bride’s potential return to Britain.
Yusuf told GB News that Farage’s stance was rooted in national security concerns following recent regime changes in Syria.
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