Sir Declan Morgan, the former Lord Chief Justice of Ireland (2009-2021), has publicly criticized the UK government’s decision to revoke Shamima Begum’s citizenship. Speaking at the launch of a new report by the Independent Commission on UK Counter-Terrorism Law, Policy and Practice, which he chairs, Morgan argued that the practice of citizenship deprivation disproportionately affects British ethnic minorities and is inconsistent with human rights obligations. The report, unveiled at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) in Westminster, is the result of a three-year review and highlights significant flaws in British counter-terror legislation. Begum, a London-born woman who traveled to Islamic State-controlled territory at age 15 in 2015, was stripped of her British citizenship in 2019 by the Conservative government. Her legal team argued that the decision was unlawful, but the Supreme Court refused to hear her appeal. Morgan emphasized that under the commission’s proposals, Begum’s citizenship could not have been revoked. He urged the government to adopt the commission’s recommendations, which include repatriating British nationals from conflict zones and tightening the definition of terrorism. The report also criticizes the lowering of the threshold for citizenship deprivation and the weakening of procedural protections, noting that these practices disproportionately impact minority ethnic communities. Former attorney general Dominic Grieve, a commission member, pointed out that the UK stands out among countries like the US, Canada, and Australia for its refusal to repatriate citizens from conflict zones. The report calls for a more humane and consistent approach to counter-terrorism, emphasizing the need to protect human rights and avoid arbitrary decisions.
Former Northern Ireland lord chief justice says UK wrong to strip Shamima Begum of citizenship
