Dear Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary,

Re: Request for the Repatriation of Shamima Begum and Other British Citizens Held in Syria

We, the members of Caribbean Labour Solidarity, write to urge the United Kingdom Government to permit the return of Shamima Begum and other British and former British citizens currently held in Syria. They have been denied the right to return to their homes by the actions of previous governments who, amongst other things, have stripped them of their citizenship.  

Background  

In 2015, three young British schoolgirls—Shamima Begum, Kadiza Sultana, and Amira Abase—aged just 15 at the time, were groomed by ISIS agents and encouraged to travel to Syria to join ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, a terrorist group.  

Kadiza and Amira are reported to have tragically perished in circumstances which remain unclear, leaving Shamima Begum as the sole survivor. Ms Begum remains detained in the al-Roj camp in northern Syria after the military defeat of ISIS and following the revocation of her UK citizenship in 2019.  

There are concerns that the actions leading to their travel were known to international intelligence networks, including the UK’s. This knowledge and subsequent inaction highlight the failure to protect these and other young citizens under the Children Act 1989, which mandates safeguarding those at risk.  

As of December 2024, approximately 65 United Kingdom citizens with alleged links to ISIS are detained in Syria, including Shamima Begum. Among these detainees are an estimated 30 to 60 British children held in camps such as al-Hol and Roj in northeast Syria.  

We also understand that British aid worker Tauqir Sharif, whose citizenship was revoked in 2017, is also detained in Syria.  

The average age of adult detainees varies, but many were in their teens or early twenties at the time of their travel to Syria. The children, referred to above, are now believed to be between infancy and early adolescence. They were either taken to Syria by their parents or born there.  

Key Points of Concern  

Grooming and Coercion  

A number of those held in Syria, including Shamima Begum, were minors when they were radicalised and coerced by ISIS.  

Revocation of Citizenship 

The decision to strip individuals of UK citizenship raises ethical and legal concerns, particularly when it disproportionately affects individuals of ethnic minority backgrounds. Such harsh actions foster unease among citizens born abroad or to immigrant parents, eroding trust in the Government’s commitment to equality.  

International Obligations:

Under the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, the UK must not render individuals stateless. Despite the protestations of previous United Kingdom Governments the Bangladeshi Government has explicitly denied Ms Begum’s eligibility for citizenship of that country.

Justice and Rehabilitation  

We are strongly of the view that if there is evidence that Ms Begum or others have committed crimes in Syria or elsewhere, they should face trial in the UK under British law, ensuring justice is upheld transparently. It ill behoves the United Kingdom Government to not only revoke the citizenship of these individuals and deny them the opportunity to return to Britain and possibly face trial and judicial sanctions but also to deny justice to those they are alleged to have harmed.  

It is noted that the majority of European and other countries have returned their citizens to their respective countries.  

Why This Matters  

We believe this issue is not only about national security but also about upholding the principles of justice, compassion, and fairness that define British society. Repatriating these individuals provides an opportunity to demonstrate that the UK values rehabilitation and the rule of law over punitive measures that appear arbitrary, vindictive, or spiteful.

Caribbean Labour Solidarity affirms that citizenship is fundamental to a person’s identity, security, and sense of belonging. For migrants, particularly those from the Caribbean and other Commonwealth nations as well as their descendants, citizenship represents a vital connection to the UK—a place built upon their history, labour, and cultural contributions.  

The UK Government’s decision to revoke Shamima Begum’s citizenship is deeply concerning. It instils fear among migrants and their descendants, particularly in light of the Windrush scandal. Here, systemic failures led to the wrongful detention and deportation of many Caribbean people. The ability to strip citizenship, especially from someone born in the UK like Shamima Begum, raises serious questions about fairness and equality under the law.  

Revocation of citizenship must remain an extraordinary measure, reserved for cases of clear and significant harm to the public. In Ms Begum’s case, court proceedings were held in secret due to the nature of the evidence, leaving the public unable to assess the Government’s claims. This lack of transparency undermines trust in the legal process and raises concerns about potential overreach.  

We believe the Government’s actions appear disproportionate and fail to adequately address the responsibility to protect individuals vulnerable to exploitation, such as those groomed by ISIS. Additionally, targeting Begum based on her tenuous link to her parents’ country of origin seems unjust and would likely not have been applied to a White British citizen in similar circumstances.  

Our Call to Action  

Caribbean Labour Solidarity calls for a just and equitable approach to citizenship that prevents statelessness and ensures no individual is unfairly targeted due to their heritage or circumstances.  

We Call on Your Government to:  

• Facilitate the immediate repatriation of Shamima Begum and similarly situated British and former British citizens currently in Syria.  
• Ensure they are given access to fair trials if there are charges against them.  
• Provide avenues for rehabilitation, reintegration, and support to resume their lives as part of UK society.  

Conclusion  

This troubling case presents an opportunity to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to justice and human rights. We hope you will consider this appeal and take the necessary steps to correct past oversights and demonstrate Britain’s enduring values