THE SHAMIMA BEGUM CASE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE HUMAN RIGHT TO NATIONALITY IN LIGHT OF THE 1961 UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION FOR THE REDUCTION OF STATELESSNESS

Abstract

The object of this study is the Shamima Begum case in the United Kingdom, who became stateless after the deprivation of her British nationality. Facing the dilemma of “returning extremists” in Europe after the fall of the Islamic State in Syria, the punitive bias and legality of the measure are questioned. To this end, the changes to the British Nationality Act of 1981 after the Hamza (2003) and Al-Jedda (2014) judgments will be analysed. The theme will continually be evaluated through paradigmatic cases at the European Court of Human Rights. Therefore, it aims to defend the right to nationality in light of the 1961 UN Convention for the Reduction of Statelessness, which constitutes a “hard law” to domestic legislation. As a result, human rights shall prevail over sovereignty and national security, as the Begum case set a dangerous precedent regarding the destitution of original nationality in the context of counterterrorism.