Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has effectively ruled out any chance of Shamima Begum, a 19-year-old British citizen of Bangladeshi origin who went to Syria in 2015 to join the Islamic State, to be repatriated to Bangladesh.
Earlier on Wednesday, British Home Secretary Sajid Javid decided on Tuesday to revoke the citizenship of Shamima, who was 15 when she travelled to Syria, based on the fact that her mother has dual citizenship of the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, according to British media.
There was speculation that she might be sent back to Bangladesh, because according to Bangladeshi law, anyone who is born to a Bangladeshi parent is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen. That means that such a person could have dual nationality.
But in a late night statement to the Guardian, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said there was no chance of Shamima being provided with Bangladeshi citizenship, considering the fact that she never visited Bangladesh to apply for dual citizenship.
He also expressed concerns that Shamima is perceived as holding dual citizenship, an error he pointed out.
A press release issued soon after by the Ministry of State Affairs said stated: “Bangladesh remains firmly committed to adhere to the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestation.”
Also Read- Bangladeshi-British schoolgirl who joined IS 'wants to return to UK’
Shamima was recently found in a refugee camp in Syria, in her third trimester, soon to give birth to her third child. She expressed her disappointment upon being notified about the home secretary’s decision.
The family lawyer said that an appeal will be lodged against the decision.
“She (Shamima) was born in the UK. She went to Syria from there and did whatever she did. Now, I am really unable to understand how Bangladesh can be associated with this,” Abu Bakar Siddique, an Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, told this correspondent.
“I don’t see any grounds whatsoever as to how she can be sent to Bangladesh,” he said.
To a question, he added: “The UK government is yet to contact us in this regard. When they raise it we will deal with the issue through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
Also Read- British-Bangladeshi teenager who joined IS in Syria to lose UK citizenship
“Sending her back to Bangladesh instead of her own country (UK) is out of the question. As far as I am concerned, it is very much a British issue,” a senior Foreign Ministry official concerned said, requesting anonymity, as he is not authorized to speak to the media.
“The UK government is yet to communicate with us in this regard,” he added.
Another senior official of the Home Ministry said: “It is not that simple that when one of your citizens does something against your country, you dump her in another country, because her mother has dual nationality.”
“We will have to bear in mind that when the girl went to Syria she was only 15, a minor. And, as far as I know she is not even a citizen of Bangladesh and has never been to Bangladesh,” he said.
When asked if Bangladesh would accept her if she wanted to come willingly or she was forcibly sent to Bangladesh, the official said: “It will then be a legal issue. We cannot say anything definitely right now.”
Also Read- British govt against British-Bangladeshi teenager's return to UK
Despite repeated attempts, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan could not be reached for comment.
High Commissioner to UK, Saida Muna Tasneem, also could not be reached by telephone or email.
When contacted, Matthew Hunter, a press officer of the UK Department of Home, through the British High Commission in Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune by email, that there would be no comment on individual cases.
But, he shared a general statement issued by a Home Office spokesperson following reports that Shamima Begum has been deprived of her UK citizenship.
“In recent days the home secretary has clearly stated that his priority is the safety and security of Britain and the people who live here. In order to protect this country, he has the power to deprive someone of their British citizenship where it would not render them stateless,” said the unnamed spokesperson.
“We do not comment on individual cases, but any decisions to deprive individuals of their citizenship are based on all available evidence and not taken lightly,” added the spokesperson.
