Shamima Begum was a ‘victim of trafficking’, her lawyers tell Appeal Court judges

TERROR bride Shamima Begum’s lawyers yesterday told Appeal Court judges she was a victim of trafficking.

They claim she was groomed online and that both the UK government and police failed to protect her from sexual exploitation.

Begum, who travelled to Syria to join IS aged 15 in 2105, is battling to regain the British citizenship stripped from her as a result after being found in a refugee camp in February 2019.

Now 24 and originally from Bethnal Green, East London, she lost a challenge against the ruling earlier this year.

Home Office lawyers will give their arguments at the London hearing today.

In written submissions, they say: “The fact someone is radicalised is not inconsistent with the assessment that they pose a national security risk.”

Samantha Knights KC said: “The appellant’s trafficking was a mandatory, relevant consideration in determining whether it was conducive to the public good and proportionate to deprive her of citizenship, but it was not considered by the Home Office.

“As a consequence, the deprivation decision was unlawful.”

Ms Knights and Dan Squires KC later said the UK has failed to have a “full and effective” investigation into how Ms Begum was trafficked.