Former Northern Ireland lord chief justice criticizes UK citizenship stripping
Sir Declan Morgan, who served as the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 2009 to 2021, stated that the UK was wrong to revoke Shamima Begum's citizenship. He expressed this view during the launch of a report by the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which he chairs.
Report launch and criticisms
The event was hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in Westminster. The report followed a three-year review and includes significant criticism of British counter-terrorism laws. Among its findings, it highlights that deprivation of citizenship disproportionately affects British ethnic minorities.
Background on Shamima Begum's case
Begum, born in London, traveled to Islamic State territory in 2015 at age 15 and is currently held in a detention camp in northeast Syria. The Conservative government stripped her of her British citizenship in 2019.
Legal proceedings and commission's stance
Begum’s legal team challenged the decision in the UK Supreme Court, arguing the government failed to prevent her trafficking. However, the court declined to hear her appeal. Addressing her case, Morgan stated:
“Under our proposals [citizenship] could not be taken from her.”
He urged the government to adopt the commission's recommendations regarding citizenship deprivation policies.
Author's summary
The commission chaired by Sir Declan Morgan condemns the UK's practice of stripping citizenship, especially highlighting its unfair impact on ethnic minorities and calling for policy reform.