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Shemima Begum

(168 Posts)
grannyrebel7 Wed 15-Sept-21 18:47:36

Did anyone see the interview on Good Morning Britain today? In case you don't remember this was one of the girls that ran off to join Isis back in 2015. She has been stripped of her UK citizenship but is now begging to be allowed back into the country. I don't know what to think about this case as you could argue that she was a young impressionable teenager who was groomed online I suppose. However, she didn't come across like that and gave the impression that she wasn't really sorry. Even when asked about her three children who died and her two friends, she didn't really seem that upset. I don't think by giving that interview that she did herself any favours. I know there was a huge backlash on Twitter against her. Who knows the truth? I will keep an open mind on this one.

trisher Thu 16-Sept-21 13:19:07

GrannyGravy13

Unfortunately trisher we do not know who is pulling her strings at this present time?

The Government has to weigh up her human rights with U.K. security all we as individuals can hope for is that the Security Services information is accurate and current.

Her life is ruined, laying in tatters but at least she has a life which is more than the thousands of souls murdered by Daesh along with the maimed and their grieving families for whom their nightmare will continue…

Her human rights include the right to citizenship of the UK.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 16-Sept-21 13:17:08

Unfortunately trisher we do not know who is pulling her strings at this present time?

The Government has to weigh up her human rights with U.K. security all we as individuals can hope for is that the Security Services information is accurate and current.

Her life is ruined, laying in tatters but at least she has a life which is more than the thousands of souls murdered by Daesh along with the maimed and their grieving families for whom their nightmare will continue…

trisher Thu 16-Sept-21 13:11:02

For those commenting on her appearance I don't doubt that there are people who have a vested interest in her and her story. Where I probably differ is in thinking that those interests are at all linked with Muslims or terrorism. I would imagine there are people who realise that her story could make them a fortune in book rights/film and documentaries. So after being groomed as a 15 year old, subjected to sexual exploitation and horrific violence she is now being manipulated by western entertainment moguls. You really have to see just a victim, and whatever happens to her I very much doubt if her future will be as easy or as simple as some imagine.

Zoejory Thu 16-Sept-21 13:03:33

For those who still have sympathy with her, just think about Sajid Javid’s words, something along the lines of “If you knew what I know about her, you would agree with me

That was a rather childish comment by Javid. I was surprised.

And I don't actually have any sympathy for her, either.

Totally agree with Grammaretto about people not necessarily reacting the way that is expected as well.

May7 Thu 16-Sept-21 12:57:19

Good post trisher 10:15. Thanks for the link. Interesting reading.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 16-Sept-21 12:44:33

The Hunan being has an instinct for survival and this Shamima has a strong one too

Totally agree Grammameretto

I just have an uneasy feeling that yet again she is being groomed/used, and to what end?

I do feel that she should be put on trial, the question is where? Surely if you have committed a crime in a foreign country you are normally tried in that country?

JenniferEccles Thu 16-Sept-21 12:42:33

Letting her return here to face trial and be hopefully found guilty is all very well in principle, but the reality is that every human rights lawyer in the country would be clamouring to take on her case, so there’s no guarantee she would be found guilty.

Even if she were, and given a long sentence, we all know that she would be out in a few years complete with a house, benefits and of course a new identity.

For those who still have sympathy with her, just think about Sajid Javid’s words, something along the lines of “If you knew what I know about her, you would agree with me “

She should stay where she is.

Whatdayisit Thu 16-Sept-21 12:40:32

I don't see how it's reasonable for Britain to relinquish all responsibility for these people and this one in particular. If she had come to Britain as a refugee I could accept that she could lose her citizenship. Why do we expect Bangladesh to take responsibility?
I think the actions of the Government in this case makes the UK look weak. She is our problem.

Grammaretto Thu 16-Sept-21 12:30:23

What is coming out on here is how polarised we are in our attitudes. This forum of "grandparents" who have access to the internet, are educated, thoughtful and wise etc cannot agree where we stand in relation to this one problem woman/person.

Personally, from my own experience of dealing with difficult things in my own life, I don't react emotionally and find I cannot cry. It's a defence mechanism but others probably think I am cold and feelingless. The human being has an instinct for survival and this Shamima has a strong one too.

Chewbacca Thu 16-Sept-21 11:21:45

I think it's so interesting that many of the posts on this thread describe her as "robotic" unfeeling or use other words meaning she fails to show the emotional responses people think women traditionally should exhibit

I agree with most of your post trisher but I think, although may be mistaken, that people are not so much wary of her lack of emotion or feelings "as a woman", but as a human being. She did say, in an earlier interview, that when confronted with beheaded bodies, and other atrocities that would turn the stomach of most human beings; it didn't bother her too much. She is manipulative but I can see why that's the case.

Alegrias1 Thu 16-Sept-21 11:05:13

Wokey

?

Zoejory Thu 16-Sept-21 11:04:51

She wasn't wearing a black jilbab, hijab and niqab when she grew up here. Photos of her when she was leaving showed the girls wearing usual attire of teenage Muslim girls in the West.

Not sure why this obsession with what she's wearing. I'd have thought it understandable she'd have had to change her clothing. She's changed back now. I doubt it's to garner support with the British public.

Piers Morgan wrote an illuminating article in the Mail yesterday. It appears a lot of people agree with him. He calls her a monster and says she should be left to rot. Which it appears she will .

She can't go to Bangladesh, either. They don't want her and have said will refuse any attempt to allow her entry.

Quite a good article here

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/26/britain-risks-new-guantanamo-syria-rights-group-shamima-begum

Mollygo Thu 16-Sept-21 11:02:58

GG13 Re being kept in a strict Muslim enclave and her definitely western appearance. It makes you wonder if she is being used as a pawn. Get her back here and make use of her.
She would find it difficult to decry the evils of ISIS whilst she’s there I suppose, but what she does say, doesn’t support the idea that she really thinks they were wrong.
Someone mentioned earlier about the rights of her husband to come to England if she is here and we’d probably allow it,
The idea that she should come back here to be tried worries me because of our justice system. The trial could be dragged out for ages whilst she claims innocence by indoctrination, vulnerability etc.
What is she going to be tried for? Where did she commit the crimes? Does the country she went to see her behaviour as criminal?
I understand why she’d like to come back, but I’m not convinced.

EMMF1948 Thu 16-Sept-21 11:00:31

trisher

She was born in Britain, she grew up in Bitain, she was radicalised in Britain. It's time we started taking responsibility for our citizens and their crimes. She should be tried in Britain and if found guilty of any crime spend her time in a British prison.

Oh yes, let's put her in prison here but not too nasty, she'll be upset and at the same time let all the hand-wringers and lawyers out to make a name for themselves accuse the Government of every wokey crime they can think of to get her out.
She's where she wanted to be, leave her to rot there for our safety.

Scooty413 Thu 16-Sept-21 10:55:45

I watched the interview and her lack of empathy chilled me. At 15 she made up her mind to leave the UK and her family to enter the life of terrorism. To see her talking yesterday with her appearance so drastically changed, she seemed like a wolf in lamb's clothing. No way do I trust her. No way would I ever want her to be able to enter the UK.

If she had information that could help our security forces, do you really believe that ISIS would let her leave, enabling her to share such information? No. She is masquerading and she is dangerous.

H1954 Thu 16-Sept-21 10:54:03

I don't condone violence at all but if she was allowed back and faced prosecution she would have a miserable time in prison, pretty much what she deserves in my opinion. She showed no compassion for the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing whatsoever, in fact didn't she quote 'it was by way of relatiation by ISIS'?
I don't believe she genuinely wants to help and advise on national security issues concerning radicalisation either any more than I believe in the tooth fairy.

Squiffy Thu 16-Sept-21 10:49:54

If she was groomed at 15, is she now being 're-branded' as a Westerner to convince the UK to have her back. A sort of Trojan horse approach?

Woodmouse Thu 16-Sept-21 10:42:51

No sympathy for her whatsoever.

Josianne Thu 16-Sept-21 10:40:45

GrannyGravy13

I wonder where she got the make-up, the western clothes, the jewellery and her perfectly painted manicured finger nails, I shouldn’t think that these are readily available in a refugee camp in Northern Syria?

If she has all those modern western trappings, isn't the worry she also has a mobile phone and access to social media? How is anyone able to properly monitor that and does she present a danger to us with all her contacts?

trisher Thu 16-Sept-21 10:37:49

Thanks Alegrias1 I think it's so interesting that many of the posts on this thread describe her as "robotic" *unfeeling" or use other words meaning she fails to show the emotional responses people think women traditionally should exhibit, because such behaviour is typical of people who have been recruited as children, and exposed to unthinkable levels of violence. In other words they are actually just showing how damaged she really is, and not as the poster imagines giving reasons why she shouldn't come back to Britain.

Whatdayisit Thu 16-Sept-21 10:36:02

I watched the interview and felt sickened by her Westernised appearance. It felt obvious she was trying to look as though she was no longer a Muslim. It felt shallow and a waste of time it won't win people round. I feel sickened by what she has gone through and what she has alleged to have done.
But I feel sickened that we as a country are not taking responsibility. Who are we expecting to do our duty work. If Javid has more dirt on her take her to trial. I would be happy for my taxes to go to her incarceration. We have just been happy paying for Peter Sutcliffe all those years. It was never suggested we should strip him of his citizenship. This is Islamophobia and misogyny.

timetogo2016 Thu 16-Sept-21 10:33:16

Kandinsky,i totaly agree with you 100%.

Alegrias1 Thu 16-Sept-21 10:28:41

Good post at 10:15 trisher.

We don't have to feel sorry for her, or think she's hard done by or any of those things. The law is meant to be blind to all that. She is British, whatever Javid says, because she doesn't have any other nationality. That's how international law works and despite what we think, we can't change things unilaterally.

She is our responsibility and we need to take her back to Britain, put her on trial and imprison her if necessary. I don't think anyone is suggesting she gets to wander the streets and play happy families.

seacliff Thu 16-Sept-21 10:27:35

If she doesn't feel it's HER country, why does she want to come back here?

rafichagran Thu 16-Sept-21 10:27:30

Foxie Where was her compassion and Empathy?I have no sympathy for her at all all.