Jihadi brides could avoid prosecution because of a legal loophole

Jihadi brides who have given moral support to so-called Islamic State fighters could avoid prosecution through possible legal loopholes, a terror law watchdog has warned.

In his annual report, Jonathan Hall QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the “culpability of those who travel to Syria or Iraq and provide only moral (that is, intangible) support to proscribed organisations such as Daesh is not directly addressed in the criminal offence provisions under the Terrorism Acts 2000 and 2006”.

He said there may be “major extenuating circumstances” such as for “girls who are groomed in the United Kingdom and are ultimately persuaded to go out to join Daesh”.

But he warned the importance of “emotional help” and “mental comfort” to such groups “is real”, adding that under current law, it is an offence to invite such support but “not an offence actually to provide it”.

His comments come after the case of Shamima Begum, one of three east London schoolgirls who travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State in February 2015.

She was found, nine months pregnant, in a Syrian refugee camp in February last year, prompting then home secretary Sajid Javid to strip her of her British citizenship but she took legal action against the Home Office saying the decision was unlawful.

Last month, her lawyers said she would immediately initiate an appeal against a decision that revoking her British citizenship did not render her stateless.

Source: Telegraph