Shamima Begum jihadi bride case set to cost taxpayers more than £5m, experts warn

The authorized case involving jailed jihadi bride Shamima Begum is more likely to price taxpayers greater than £5million, in response to consultants.

Attorneys performing for Begum, 21 – who was 15 when she and two college mates fled Britain for Syria with two college mates – are actually planning to launch a brand new court docket case in November, arguing she must be allowed again to Britain on the grounds that she was trafficked.

Their claims appeared to have been strengthened final week when a brand new ebook claimed that an Islamic State (IS) individuals smuggler who was on the time working for Canadian intelligence helped Begum and her two mates Kadiza Sultana, then 16, and Amira Abase, 15 on the time, to journey from Istanbul to the Syrian border in 2015.

Shamima Begum’s (above) first court docket bid to return to Britain was launched months after then House Secretary Sajid Javid stripped her of citizenship in February 2019 as a result of she was thought-about a menace to nationwide safety

Nevertheless, official sources stated final evening that the Authorities will robustly defend its determination to strip Begum of her British citizenship.

One insider stated: ‘All of the current protection reveals that she left the UK for Syria willingly.’

Begum’s first court docket bid to return to Britain was launched months after then House Secretary Sajid Javid stripped her of citizenship in February 2019 as a result of she was thought-about a menace to nationwide safety.

Her case, which began on the Particular Immigration Appeals Fee (SIAC), has since been heard on the Excessive Court docket, the Court docket of Enchantment and the Supreme Court docket, which upheld Mr Javid’s determination.

Authorized consultants imagine that the price of the case – by which Begum acquired authorized assist – has already price greater than £2million.

Paul Fulcher, who runs specialist agency Authorized Prices Specialists, stated: ‘It’s important to keep in mind that a few of these barristers can cost as much as £1,000 per hour and this case has gone on for nearly two years via a number of courts.

‘If the entire course of begins once more and finally ends up on the Supreme Court docket, the entire thing might price taxpayers upwards of £5million.’

The brand new ebook, The Secret Historical past of the 5 Eyes by writer Richard Herbaj, claims that an IS individuals smuggler referred to as Mohammed Al-Rasheed helped Begum cross the border. However, in response to the ebook, he was additionally working for the Canadian Safety Intelligence Service (CSIS), who knowledgeable Scotland Yard.

Though attorneys for Begum, initially from Bethnal Inexperienced, East London, are calling for a public inquiry, one Authorities supply stated that Al-Rasheed’s alleged involvement doesn’t change the truth that Begum was radicalised in Britain and made up her thoughts to go to Syria.

He stated: ‘All of the indications are that she and her mates had been radicalised in Tower Hamlets. In her college, Bethnal Inexperienced Academy, at the very least 9 of them grew to become radicalised collectively, and tried to go to Syria.

‘There was native component radicalising them, and there was a web based component. This doesn’t appear to be trafficking to me.’

The House Workplace stated final evening: ‘It’s our long-standing coverage that we don’t touch upon operational intelligence or safety issues.’