Toddler born to radicalised Muslim convert should be raised in the UK, court rules

A toddler born in Syria when her radicalised Muslim convert father travelled there to fight for ISIS should brought up by a non-Muslim grandmother, a High Court judge has decided.

Mrs Justice Gwynneth Knowles, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court, had been told how the girl’s parents had left England for Syria, where she was born.

Her father, who had been raised as a Christian and converted to Islam, had gone to Syria to engage in ‘terrorism-related activity’ and her Muslim mother had an ‘extremist ideology’, the judge heard. Both had been detained in Turkey.

The man had been charged with terrorism-related activities, and was the subject of an ‘on-going criminal process’, mother and child had been deported back to Britain, the judge heard.

Council social services bosses had then asked Mrs Justice Knowles to make decisions about the girl’s future. The girl’s mother wanted to care for her.

Mrs Justice Gwynneth Knowles, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court, had been told how the girl’s parents had left England for Syria, where she was born

But Mrs Justice Knowles concluded that the little girl, who is approaching her second birthday, would not be safe in her mother’s care.

She said the woman might radicalise the girl or take her to an ‘unsafe location’ abroad.

The judge decided that the youngster should instead live with her father’s mother, who is not a Muslim.

She had analysed the case at a private hearing in London and has published a written ruling explaining her decision.

The man’s mother said she had struggled to come to terms with his behaviour.

She had told Mrs Justice Knowles that she would not ‘impose any religious beliefs’ on the girl.

Mrs Justice Knowles said the girl could not be identified and did not name anyone involved in her ruling.