Early Life and Education
Shamima Begum was born on August 25, 1999, in London, England, to immigrant parents of Bangladeshi origin. She grew up in the Bethnal Green area of Tower Hamlets and attended Bethnal Green Academy.
Journey to Syria and ISIS Membership
At the age of 15, Shamima Begum, along with her friends Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana, left the UK in February 2015 to join ISIS in Syria. Their journey was facilitated by a smuggler linked to Canadian intelligence. Shortly after arriving in Syria, Begum married Yago Riedijk, a Dutch ISIS member who had been in Syria since October 2014. The marriage, occurring when she was underage, may not be recognized under Dutch law. Begum had three children, all of whom died young; her youngest child passed away in March 2019 from a lung infection.
Activities in Syria
In Syria, Shamima Begum became known as a strict enforcer of ISIS’s laws, including its dress codes for women. Reports indicated she carried a Kalashnikov rifle and attempted to recruit other young women to join ISIS. Although some claims suggested she was involved in stitching suicide bombs into explosive vests, these were not proven, and Begum has denied many of the allegations.
Discovery and Citizenship Revocation
In February 2019, Shamima Begum was found at the al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria by war correspondent Anthony Loyd. The following day, British Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her UK citizenship. The British government believed she held Bangladeshi citizenship as well, though this has been contested by the Bangladeshi government. Shamima Begum was moved to the al-Roj camp for safety reasons after receiving threats at al-Hawl.
Legal Battles
The British government’s decision to revoke Begum's citizenship led to a series of legal battles. In July 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled that she should be allowed to return to the UK to challenge the citizenship revocation decision. However, this ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court, which on February 26, 2021, overturned the decision, preventing her return. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission also ruled that the revocation was lawful on national security grounds.
In February 2023, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission upheld the decision to revoke her citizenship, and her subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on February 23, 2024. The Supreme Court later ruled that she would not be allowed to challenge the removal of her British citizenship.
Current Status
As of February 2024, Shamima Begum remains at the al-Roj detention camp in Syria. Despite ongoing legal efforts, her attempts to return to the UK have been blocked by British courts.
FAQs
1. What is Shamima Begum real name?
- Shamima Begum is her real name.
2. When was Shamima Begum born?
- She was born on August 25, 1999.
3. How old is Shamima Begum?
- As of August 2024, she is 24 years old.
4. Where was Shamima Begum born?
- She was born in London, England.
5. What is Shamima Begum nationality?
- She is British, but her citizenship has been revoked.
6. What is Shamima Begum educational background?
- She attended Bethnal Green Academy.
7. Who are Shamima Begum parents?
- Her father is Ahmed Ali.
8. Does Shamima Begum have any siblings?
- Yes, she has a sister named Aklima Begum.
9. Who is Shamima Begum husband?
- Her husband is Yago Riedijk, whom she married in 2015.
10. How many children does Shamima Begum have?
- She had three children, all of whom have died.
11. What was Shamima Begum career in ISIS?
- She was reportedly an enforcer of ISIS's laws and attempted to recruit other young women.
12. Why was Shamima Begum UK citizenship revoked?
- The British government revoked her citizenship due to her affiliation with ISIS and national security concerns.
13. Has Shamima Begum been able to return to the UK?
- No, she has been denied return to the UK after the revocation of her citizenship.
14. Where is Shamima Begum currently living?
- As of February 2024, she is living in the al-Roj detention camp in Syria.
15. What legal actions has Shamima Begum taken regarding her citizenship?
- She has challenged the revocation of her citizenship through various legal appeals, all of which have been unsuccessful, including a Supreme Court ruling against her return.
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