UK revoked nationality of "jihadist girlfriend" who asked for "compassion" to return to her country

The UK government has withdrawn citizenship from a hundred alleged jihadist fighters in Syria with dual British and foreign nationality, Interior Minister Sajid Javid said on Monday.

Javid appeared before Parliament to answer urgent questions from MPs regarding the case of the young British woman Shamima Begum, who fled to Syria in 2015, when she was 15, to join the Islamic State terrorist group and now wants to return to that country to care for her newborn baby. "If you have supported terrorism, there must be consequences," said the official.

"I'm a little bit surprised"Begum told the ITV channel by entering the decision."It's disappointing and frustrating. I think it's unfair to me and my son"he added.

Although she did not express regret in her initial statements to the Syrian press, the young woman apologized for her actions and said that she wanted to "rehabilitate herself", but its eventual return would be controversial in the United Kingdom.

When asked about the case, the minister told the deputies that he would not hesitate to "prevent" the return of the British to fight in Syria, within the limits of the law.

"The family is very disappointed by the Interior Ministry's intention to order Shamima to strip her of her nationality," said the girl's parents' lawyer, Tasnime Akunjee. , on Twitter. "We have examined all legal avenues to challenge this decision," he added.

The minister, however, said that those who have only British nationality, since under the protection of international law, can not remain without a state, if they are repatriated, they will be "interrogated, investigated and potentially charged ".

As for suspected jihadists of dual nationality, he explained that they could withdraw British citizenship, which has already happened "to a hundred people". Javid estimated that about 900 Britons have traveled in recent years to fight alongside Islamists in Syria and Iraq.

(With information from AFP and EFE)