Asma says her ‘world fell apart’ after Shamima joined ISIS in Syria

• Shamima Begum’s mother said her world “broke apart” after she joined ISIS.
• She hasn’t touched her daughter’s bedroom since she left for Syria.
• Her school blazer is still on the front door as she left.

Shamima Begum’s mother said her world “broke apart” after she joined ISIS.

Asma Begum claimed she hasn’t touched her daughter’s bedroom since she left for Syria in 2015.

“I think about my youngest daughter virtually every hour of every day,” the mother said at an appeal hearing against the government’s decision to strip Ms. Begum, 23, of her British citizenship.

“Our worlds crumbled when she left in 2015. Still in her drawers are perfume, pens, jewelry, and outfits. Her pajamas are folded.

Her school blazer is still on the front door as she left.

Ms. Begum’s citizenship was revoked in February 2019 after she was found nine months pregnant in a Syrian refugee camp.

Her lawyer told the Special Immigration Appeals Commission on the third day of the appeal that her mother’s statements were “a powerful indicator” of family ties.

He stated her family in Bethnal Green, east London, was not considered in the decision to revoke her citizenship, violating their right to family life.

Sajid Javid, the then-home secretary, stripped Begum of her citizenship since she also had Bangladeshi citizenship.

International law forbids making her stateless.

Mr. Squires claimed she would be hung in Bangladesh and is now stateless.

Mr. Javid should have examined the impact of revoking Ms. Begum’s citizenship since she had never visited Bangladesh and had no passport.

“It’s evident he didn’t think that the deprivation ruling could make the appellant stateless,” said Mr. Squires.

Bangladeshi authorities declared she wasn’t a citizen and wouldn’t help her.

Mr. Squires continued, “Bangladesh authorities would have guaranteed she’d be hanged if she entered.”

Ms. Begum’s lawyers also contended that revoking her citizenship violated anti-discrimination rules and singled out British Muslims.

Mr. Squires stated the government disproportionately targeted British Muslims, citing IRR findings that the deprivation program is “nearly completely” applied to Muslims.

The government believes Mr. Javid’s decision to remove her citizenship was legal and that the right to deprive is necessary for national safety.

Ms. Begum was in Syria “because she chose to leave the UK,” Home Office lawyers will argue on Thursday.

Sir James Eadie KC continued for the department: “It’s not fair to presume Ms. Begum’s family ties stayed the same when she departed the UK.

In Ms. Begum’s instance, there was no equality concern.

Friday’s hearing before Mr. Justice Jay in London will end, and a written ruling is likely later.

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