SIAC dismisses Shamima Begum’s appeal against deprivation of citizenship

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission has delivered judgment in the case of Shamima Begum v Secretary of State for the Home Department.

This was a challenge to the Secretary of State’s decision to deprive Shamima Begum of her citizenship. Ms Begum applied to appeal that decision.

In its judgment, SIAC accepted that the appeal raised “important and complex points of law which are not free from difficulty or controversy.”

SIAC held that there is a credible suspicion that Ms Begum was recruited, transferred and then harboured for the purpose of sexual exploitation. SIAC also held that it is arguable that there were failures by the authorities, and possible violations of the protective duty, in permitting Ms Begum to leave the country to travel to Syria.

SIAC concluded that it was for the Secretary of State, not SIAC, to evaluate the extent to which Ms Begum poses a threat to the national security of the United Kingdom, and how that threat should be balanced against all countervailing considerations.

The Commission dismissed Ms Begum’s appeal.

Adam Straw KC acted as special advocate with Angus McCullough KC.