Bangladesh must show ‘sympathy’ and take in ISIS jihadi bride Shamima Begum, claims senior Muslim leader at annual peace conference
- Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad said ‘any Muslim country’ should take Begum in
- Added that he did not blame British government for death of her baby Jerah
- Made comments at peace symposium at mosque in Morden, south west Lodnon
A senior Muslim leader has called on Bangladesh to show sympathy and take in ISIS jihadi bride Shamima Begum.
Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who represents tens of millions of Ahmadi Muslims worldwide, said that as she has been stripped of her citizenship ‘any Muslim country’ should take her in.
Speaking at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, in Morden, south west London, he added that he did not blame the British government for the death of her 18-day-old baby Jerah.
Earlier today, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott provoked fury after placing the blame for the baby’s death at Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s door.
He said: ‘She claims herself to be Muslim so then a Muslim country should show sympathy to her.
Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, pictured, has called on Bangladesh to show sympathy and take in ISIS jihadi bride Shamima Begum
Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, who represents tens of millions of Ahmadi Muslims worldwide, said that as Ms Begum, pictured with her son Jerah, has been stripped of her citizenship ‘any Muslim country’ should take her in
‘If the British Government has stripped her of her nationality then another country should adopt her, any Muslim country.’
He added: ‘Since her parents were from Bangladesh the first duty is of Bangladesh to take her as a national.’
Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad also acknowledged that taking Ms Begum to the Netherlands with her Dutch husband, Yago Riedijk, was also a possibility.
He made the comments at the faith’s annual peace symposium, which is now in its 16th year.
The news comes as Ms Begum’s father made an emotional plea for the British government to allow her to return home.
Ms Begum travelled to Syria from her home in Bethnal Green, east London, when she was aged 15 in February 2015.
Ahmed Ali, 60, said his daughter, now 19, ‘did wrong’ by joining the group but did so ‘without realising it’ because she was ‘under age’.
Mr Ali called for the government to ‘take her back and punish her if she had done any mistake’.
He made the comments before discovering his grandson had died.
He added: ‘Since her parents were from Bangladesh the first duty is of Bangladesh to take her as a national’