British teen Shamima Begum regrets joining the Islamic State

British teenager Shamima Begum, who fled her home in London at the age of 15 and joined Daesh in Syria, said she deeply regrets joining the group and wants to return home, the Mirror reported.

In an interview with Andrew Drury, the now 21-year-old looked unrecognisable with painted fingernails, a Nike cap and jeans.

Begum said in the interview that she now wears western clothes because it “makes her happy”, which she said was a “lifesaver” in the Al-Hawl refugee camp in northern Syria.

“I don’t think I was a terrorist. I think I was just a dumb kid who made one mistake. I personally don’t think that I need to be rehabilitated, but I would want to help other people be rehabilitated. I would love to help,” she said.

Former UK Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, revoked Begum’s British citizenship on national security grounds shortly after she was found nine months pregnant in a Syrian refugee camp in February 2019. She was left stateless as a result of the move which caused controversy.

The fate of Begum, who was found in a detention camp in Syria last month, has illustrated the ethical, legal and security conundrum that governments face when dealing with the families of militants who swore to destroy the West.

She is currently being held at the Al-Roj prison camp in Syria and campaigning for the chance to return to the UK.

Source: Middle East Monitor