Home Secretary, Sajid Javid: Shamima Begum Will Not Return!

Watching BBC1's 'Question Time' last night, the question from the studio audience came up about Islamic State girl, Shamima Begum. The question was asked to guests on the panel hosted by Fiona Bruce, whether this girl should be allowed to re-enter the UK?

Jacob Rees-Mogg, usually known for his hard-right views (a Conservative MP and Brexiteer) was quite soft on this one. Mr Rees-Mogg responded saying Begum was a 15-year-old schoolgirl when she flew out with others, to Syria, to join IS.

While living in IS territory she married a Dutch convert to Islam, and proceeded to have a number of children, by this IS fighter from Europe, and, Begum is currently pregnant again. Going back to Rees-Mogg, he said that Shamima Begum should be allowed to return to the UK on compassionate grounds, as she was, a British citizen.

However, one audience member disagreed saying Begum flew out to Syria, innocent schoolgirl or not, to join a group who had nothing but contempt and hatred for the UK, therefore, she should not be allowed to come back. There are grounds for Rees-Mogg's reasoning being a schoolgirl and under British law, the fact she was married underage and having sex (forced or otherwise) with a Dutch IS fighter would count as an abuse of a child.

'The Times' newspaper allegedly found Begum in a Syrian refugee camp and the reporter proceeded to interview her. She stated for the record, she knew what she was doing when joining the Islamic State and was not fazed by the atrocities committed by the group, including beheaded heads, she saw in bins.

Begum's family meanwhile, here in the UK, have stated that the girl should she come back to the UK would not pose a threat, however, that's their word. It is reckoned there are other British and European IS members in the Syrian refugee camps. Many have fled anti-IS forces as the Khalifate of Islamic State shrunk, due to the recapture of land, once occupied by them.

Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said, those who went abroad to join the Islamic State, a group committed to the overthrow and destruction of western society, should never be allowed to return to the UK. The reason being, who knows what manner of mischief they would get up to once back home. Many on 'Question Time' said last night, the 'Prevent' scheme, supposedly to stop young people being radicalised had failed, hence so many Brits joining IS.

Sky News conducted a poll asking the question 'should Shamima Begum be allowed to return to the UK'? 76% think she should not be allowed to return, while others thought she should at 16% and the don't knows, 8%.

Personally, for me, I understand about Shamima being an abused child and the possibility of her being groomed by IS, however, vulnerable child aside, she has been indoctrinated into their ideology and is not remorseful, so therefore she and others like her, should not return.

Even though the Islamic State, ISIL, ISIS or Daesh (call them what you will) are defeated militarily, plus the loss of their de-facto capital Raqqa, plus the loss of territory, make no mistake, given the chance and the right condition, the Khalifate could rise again.

Even now, forces are mopping up the remnants of IS in Syria, however, IS have mainly gone to ground and have become a shadowy group, like their counter-parts Al-Qaeda.

For Donald Trump, to say they had been defeated completely was a premature error in judgement. Perhaps on the whole on the battlefield, conventionally speaking, the group are on the backfoot, however, they are still able to launch spectacular attacks, from the shadows, behind the lines of their enemies. It is also possible the group, could well be able to launch attacks in the west, like the Paris attacks and in other places in Europe. Whether IS actually works with cells based here to implement such an attack, or it is lone wolves doing their bidding, influenced by their propaganda, the result is still the same.

Therefore, we must all remain vigilant and understand we face a bitter and determined enemy.