Sajid Javid ‘drawing up new Treason Act that could see IS fighters who betrayed Britain jailed for life’
- Home Secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly drawing up a brand new Treason Act
- Document could see returning IS fights who have betrayed Britain jailed for life
- Would also enable prosecution of foreign spies who carry out missions on UK soil
Home Secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly drawing up a new Treason Act that could see returning IS fighters who have betrayed Britain jailed for life.
Mr Javid is said to have asked officials to close current legal loopholes. It would also enable the prosecution of foreign spies who carry out missions on British soil, such as Russia’s GRU agents.
The Treason Act was passed in 1351 for crimes against the monarchy.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid is reportedly drawing up a new Treason Act that could see returning IS fighters who have betrayed Britain jailed for life
But a new definition would be an act of betrayal by anyone using violence – or attempting to – against the people of the UK.
The Sun reported it would end gaps in the law that have allowed dozens of returning jihadis to walk free as there is too little evidence to prosecute.
Meanwhile, the family of IS bride Shamima Begum has demanded that her newborn son be returned to Britain from Syria.
Meanwhile, the family of IS bride Shamima Begum has demanded that her newborn son be returned to Britain from Syria
The plea will pile pressure on Mr Javid who has admitted the teenager’s week-old son remains a British citizen.
Begum’s relatives wrote to Mr Javid after he removed her UK citizenship this week. Writing on their behalf, her sister Renu, 31, said the baby was a ‘true innocent’ who deserved to be raised here.
Any Home Office move to bring the boy to the UK might be used by Begum, who said she will not be separated from her son, to facilitate her own return to Britain on human rights grounds.