Shamima Begum

Shamima Begum is a British-born woman who left the UK aged 15 to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria. Her intention to return to the UK in 2019 resulted in a public debate about the handling of returning jihadists. In February 2019, the British government issued an order revoking her British citizenship and later clarified that she would never be allowed to return. In July 2020, however, the Court of Appeal ruled that Begum should be permitted to return to the UK so that she could fairly contest this decision by instructing lawyers properly. This ruling is subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.