Shamima Begum's newborn baby son has died, her lawyer confirms

Shamima Begum pictured with her newborn son Jerah shortly after his birth
ITV

ISIS bride Shamima Begum's newborn baby has died, her lawyer has confirmed.

A spokesman for the Kurdish-led military group the Syrian Demoractic Forces (SDF), which is holding ISIS families in northern Syria, also confirmed the news on Friday evening.

The boy, named Jerah, was less than three weeks old. He died from pneumonia, according to a medical certificate seen by the BBC.

The SDF, in a now deleted tweet, earlier dismissed unconfirmed reports revealed by Ms Begum's lawyer Tasnime Akunjee that the baby had died.

In an online post, Mr Akunjee added: "He was a British Citizen."

The BBC said it spoke to a Kurdish Red Crescent paramedic working at the camp where Ms Begum is staying.

The medical worker claimed the baby died on Thursday afternoon after suffering from breathing difficulties and a lung infection.

Shamima Begum has had her British citizenship revoked
BBC

The Standard has contacted the Foreign Office for comment.

Ms Begum and Jerah, named after a 7th century Islamic warlord, were moved from the refugee camp where he was born after they were 'threatened', it was reported last week.

The birth of her son was announced on February 17. Ms Begum said she had already lost two children when she was tracked down by the Times in a refugee camp in Syria.

At the time of the birth, Mr Akunjee announced: "We the family of Shamima Begum have been informed that Shamima has given birth to her child, we understand that she and the baby are in good health."

Mr Ali speaks in an interview in Bangladesh
AP

Ahmed Ali claimed the teenager did not have a passport when she left her home in Bethnal Green at the age of 15 to marry an ISIS fighter.

In an interview from his home in Bangladesh, Mr Ali, 60, said: “The British immigration system is very informed, the most informed system in the world.

"I always say how did (Shamima) get there using another one’s passport? She doesn’t even have her own passport. These matters should be investigated.”

He also renewed calls for the government to allow his daughter to return to the UK to face punishment.

British Home Secretary Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship last month and said he had considered the child's interest when he made the decision.

(L-R) Kadiza Sultana, 16, Shamima Begum, 15 and Amira Abase, 15 going through security at Gatwick airport at the time they first fled to Syria

Following news of the boy's death, shadow home secretary Diane Abbott criticised Mr Javid's decision.

She tweeted: "It is against international law to make someone stateless, and now an innocent child has died as a result of a British woman being stripped of her citizenship. This is callous and inhumane."

Asked whether there was any plan for Ms Begum's son, Mr Javid told the Commons Home Affairs Committee it would be "incredibly difficult" for the Government to facilitate the return of a child from Syria.

"If it is possible somehow for a British child to be brought to a place where there is a British consular presence, the closest place - it might be Turkey for example - in those circumstances I guess potentially it is possible to arrange for some sort of help with the consent of the parent," he added.

"Inside Syria, whether in a camp or maybe somewhere else, there is no British consular presence."

Ms Begum was 15 when she and two other schoolgirls went to join the terror group ISIS in February 2015.

She resurfaced heavily-pregnant at a refugee camp in northern Syria last month and spoke of her desire to return to the UK, as the self-styled caliphate collapsed.

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