She was only 15 when she boarded a plane to Turkey with her two school friends, leaving behind her family, her home, and her British citizenship. She had a dream of joining ISIS, the terror group that promised her a life of adventure, romance, and piety in Syria. But four years later, she found herself in a refugee camp, pregnant, widowed, and stateless.
Shamima Begum’s story is one of the most controversial and tragic cases of radicalization among young British Muslims. She became the face of the so-called “ISIS brides”, women who married ISIS fighters and lived under their brutal rule. She also became the target of public outrage and political debate, as the UK government stripped her of her nationality and refused to let her return.
Begum’s legal battle to regain her citizenship has been long and futile. She lost her Court of Appeal challenge in February 2024, according to PA Media. Her lawyers argued that she was a victim of child trafficking, and that the decision was unlawful as it rendered her stateless. But the court ruled that the decision was justified on national security grounds, and that Begum could apply for citizenship in Bangladesh, where her parents are from.
Begum has made several public appeals as she fought against the government’s decision, most recently appearing in BBC documentary The Shamima Begum Story and a 10-part BBC podcast series. In the podcast series she insisted that she is “not a bad person.” While accepting that the British public viewed her as a “danger” and a “risk,” Begum blamed this on her media portrayal.
But Begum’s claims of innocence and remorse have been met with skepticism and criticism. Many have questioned her sincerity, her motives, and her role in ISIS. Some have accused her of being a liar, a manipulator, and a terrorist. Others have expressed sympathy, compassion, and forgiveness. Some have argued that she deserves a second chance, a fair trial, and a chance to rehabilitate.
Begum’s fate remains uncertain and bleak. She is still stuck in the Roj Camp in northern Syria, where she faces the threat of violence, disease, and hunger. She has lost three children in Syria, and has no contact with her family in the UK. No passport, no identity, and no hope.
Begum’s story is a cautionary tale of how a young girl’s dream of ISIS turned into a nightmare. It is also a complex and challenging case of how to deal with the aftermath of radicalization, and how to balance justice, security, and human rights. It is a story that raises many questions, but offers few answers.
