Shamima Begum Bio, Husband, Children, Nationality, Parents, Facts

Shamima Begum is a denaturalized British-born woman, who left the UK to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria at the age of 15. Her intention to return to the UK in 2019 resulted in a public debate about the handling of returning jihadists. The British government issued an order revoking her British citizenship in February 2019 it later stated that she would never be allowed to return. As well, the Court of Appeal ruled in July 2020 that Shamima should be permitted to return to the UK in order to fairly contest this decision by instructing lawyers properly. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in "Begum v Home Secretary" decided in favor of the Home Secretary on all grounds on 26th February 2021.

Moreover, it was reported in August 2022 that Begum’s lawyer claims the British authorities knew that Shamima was helped to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State by a Canadian intelligence agent. Tasnime Akunjee who is the lawyer for the Begum family said he had obtained a hearing in November 2022 to challenge the removal of Begum's citizenship on the basis that Home Secretary Sajid Javid had failed to consider that Begum was a victim of human trafficking.

Shamima Begum Early Life: Nationality, Religion & Parents

Shamima Begum took birth on 25th August 1999 in England, United Kingdom. She holds British nationality and she came from Bangladeshi ethnic background. Similarly, her religion is Islam and her race is black. Begum's present age is 23 which she celebrated back in 2022. As per her birth date, her zodiac sign is Virgo. She is the daughter of her father, Ahmed Ali whereas her mother's name has not been revealed yet. She has one sibling a sister named Aklima Begum.

Moving to Shamima's education, she received her secondary education at the Bethnal Green Academy however together with her friends Amira Abase and Kadiza Sultana, Begum left the UK in February 2015, at age 15, and traveled via Turkey to join the Daesh in Syria. Her sister expressed hope that she and her school friends had traveled to ISIL territory only to bring back their friend Sharmeena Begum, who had traveled there in 2014. In February 2015, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan said that everyone hoped and prayed for the safe return of the three girls to the UK.

Shamima Begum Career

Intended return

• Shamima Begum was founded at the al-Hawl refugee camp in Northern Syria by "The Times'" war correspondent Anthony Loyd on 13th February 2019 she wanted to return to the UK to raise her child but did not regret her decision to join ISIL.
• On 18th February, she was interviewed by BBC correspondent Quentin Sommerville who she asked for forgiveness and claimed that she still supports "some British values". When she was asked about the Manchester Arena bombing, she claimed it was wrong to kill innocent people, but ISIL considered it justified as retaliation for the coalition bombing of ISIL-held areas. When questioned about rape, enslavement, and murder of Yazidi women, she claimed, "Shia do the same in Iraq".
• The UK government could not legally deprive her of British citizenship if doing so would leave her stateless. However, the UK government contended that Begum was eligible for citizenship in Bangladesh and was not left stateless. The Government of Bangladesh, however, stated that Shamima does not currently hold Bangladeshi citizenship and would not be allowed to enter the country.
• Her father Ahmed Ali said on 24th February, "If she at least admitted she made a mistake then I would feel sorry for her and other people would feel sorry for her, but she does not accept her wrong." Begum reacted by stating that she regretted speaking to the media and said the UK is making an example out of her.
• It was reported on 8th March that spokespeople for the Syrian Democratic Forces had confirmed that Begum's son Jarrah had died in hospital and the cause of death was given as pneumonia in the medical certificate.
• Then, Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott and human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith criticized the UK government's decision to block Begum's return to the UK for her son's death.

The legal case against the British Government

• The main difficulty surrounding Begum's pursuit of citizenship in order to return to the United Kingdom is the contrasting interpretations and perspectives around making her stateless whereas making citizens stateless is unlawful according to both UK national Law (British Nationality Act 1981 section 40 and UN international law (1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness), of which the UK is a signatory.
• It was reported on 15th April that Begum had been granted Legal Aid to fight the revocation of her British citizenship. 
• Also on 30th May, Bangladeshi foreign minister Abdul Momen repeated their position on Begum but further added that if she entered Bangladesh she would face the death penalty due to the nation's "zero-tolerance policy" towards terrorism.
• The Metropolitan Police requested media organizations in August 2019 that had interviewed Shamima the BBC, ITN, Sky News, and "The Times" to surrender any unpublished material they may hold about Begum. They seek disclosure under the Terrorism Act 2000 in order to prepare for potential prosecution.
• Later the Court of Appeal ruled on 16th July 2020 that Begum could return to the UK to contest the government's decision to rescind her British citizenship.
• The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in "Begum v Home Secretary" decided in favor of the Home Secretary on all grounds on 26th February 2021.
• In august 2022, it was reported that Begum’s lawyer claims the British authorities knew that Shamima was helped to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State by a Canadian intelligence agent. Tasnime Akunjee who is the lawyer for the Begum family said he had obtained a hearing in November 2022 to challenge the removal of Begum's citizenship on the basis that Home Secretary Sajid Javid had failed to consider that Begum was a victim of human trafficking.

Shamima Begum Personal Life: Husband & Children

Shamima Begum is a married woman. She exchanged vows with her husband Dutch-born Yago Riedijk in 2015. Yago is an ISIL fighter converted to Islam who arrived in Syria in October 2014. This marriage may not be recognized under Dutch law since she was underage at that time. They both seem extremely happy in their domestic life and Begum is supportive of him and the profession that he is in. There's much love between the two. Basically, her understanding and their strong love bond have helped them stay glued for this long. 

The couple was blessed with three children but sadly all of whom died young; her youngest child was born in a refugee camp in February 2019 and, by March 2019, had died of a lung infection. Reflecting on her sexual orientation, she is straight.

Shamima Begum Measurements: Height & Weight

Shamima Begum stands at an ideal height of 1.65m (5 feet and 4 inches) with a balanced body weight of 54kg (119 lbs.). She has black hair and dark brown eyes color. 

In addition, her body build type is slim and her body measurement is 34-24-35 inches.