Shamima Begum – the schoolgirl who fled London to join the Islamic State group in Syria – has been stripped of her UK citizenship after expressing a desire to return.
It is only possible to strip someone of their UK nationality if they are eligible for citizenship elsewhere – and it is thought Ms Begum could be a Bangladeshi citizen because she was born to a mother believed to be Bangladeshi.
However, Bangladesh's ministry of foreign affairs has said Ms Begum is not a Bangladeshi citizen and there is “no question” of her being allowed into the country.
Is she entitled to Bangladeshi citizenship?
Expert lawyers with experience in Bangladeshi citizenship cases have told the BBC that under bangladesh law, a UK national like Ms Begum, if born to a Bangladeshi parent, is automatically a Bangladeshi citizen. That means that such a person would have dual nationality.
If the person remains in the UK, their Bangladeshi citizenship remains in existence but dormant.
Under this “blood line” law, Bangladeshi nationality and citizenship lapse when a person reaches the age of 21, unless they make efforts to activate and retain it.
So, it is Ms Begum's age, 19, that is likely – in part – to have given Home Office lawyers and the home secretary reassurance there was a legal basis for stripping her of her UK citizenship.
In 2017, the government lost an appeal case brought by two British citizens of Bangladeshi origin who were stripped of their citizenship…
