Shamima Begum who fled UK to join Isis (and now wants to come back) has given birth, says family

"Shamima Begum, 19, who left the UK with two school friends in 2015, spoke to the Times earlier this week from the al-Hawl refugee camp in north-eastern Syria."

Tasnime Akunjee (the family lawyer) said the family had been told Begum gave birth on Saturday to a boy and that mother and son were doing well.

He said the news of the birth had changed the dynamics of the situation and added pressure on the government to let Begum, and now her child, back.

Her family have called on the British government to allow her to return to the UK so her child can be cared for in “peace and security”. But the home secretary, Sajid Javid, said he would not hesitate to block her return.

“My message is clear: if you have supported terrorist organisations abroad I will not hesitate to prevent your return,” he said. “If you do manage to return you should be ready to be questioned, investigated and potentially prosecuted.”

Writing in the Sunday Times, Javid said: “As a father I feel compassion for anyone born or brought into a conflict zone. But in considering what actions need to be taken now, I have to think about the safety and security of children living in our country.”

In a statement issued on Friday, the family said her apparent lack of regret for joining Isis should be seen as the “words of a girl who was groomed at the age of 15”.

What do you think? Should the UK let her back in, now that she has a child?