Syria girls: families’ anger over school letter failure

Shamina Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase from east London, boarded a flight to Istanbul in February, and were last reported to have been staying in al Raqqa, an IS stronghold in Syria.

Both Turkish and British authorities have been criticised for taking too long to raise the alert.

Watch: 'We miss you. Don't go to Syria' missing teen's father

Appearing before the home affairs select committee, Amira’s father Hussen Abase, Khadija’s cousin Fahmida Aziz and Shamima’s sister Sahima Begum said there were no indications the girls had been radicalised.

Letter

It has emerged that police gave the three schoolgirls – as well as four other girls – letters addressed to their families about another 15-year-old fellow pupil at Bethnal Green Academy who joined Islamic State in December.

However, the girls did not pass the letters on to their families, prompting questions over why it was not delivered directly to their parents.

Family solicitor Tasnime Akunjee said had the parents received the letter they would have been “on notice” for issues like radicalisation and foreign travel.

Ms Begum said she and her family “did what they could” to monitor Shamima’s activities. However, she added they would have done more had they known the first girl – a friend of Shamima’s – had gone to Syria. “We would have questioned that,” she said.

Apology

The head of Scotland Yard apologised for failing to communicate more directly with the families, but insisted there was nothing more the force could have done to stop them leaving.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “First of all we’re sorry if the family feel like that, clearly it’s a terrible situation they find themselves in, having lost their daughters in such a horrible way.

Also sorry the letter we intended to get through, didn’t get through. It’s clear that failed. Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

“You can only half imagine what a parent is going through at this time. In that sense, I’m sorry they’re in that situation.

“Also sorry the letter we intended to get through, didn’t get through. It’s clear that failed. It was intended for them and failed and for that of course we’re sorry.

“I don’t think we would go as far as saying therefore that caused the girls to go.

“In hindsight, we now know that these girls were planning to go and neither the family, the police, the school nor anyone else realised that.”

Assistant Police Commissioner Mark Rowley, who was also addressing the committee, said that as the girls were not “responsible for any terrorist offences”, they could be returned to their families if they came back.

Returning to the UK

However, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned early onTuesday that British citizens who also travel to Iraq and Syria to fight against IS could face prosecution if they return.

That is unlawful activity and can be dealt with on their return to the UK. Philip Hammond

Asked what the authorities’ response would be to Britons who take up arms against IS, the foreign secretary said: “The simple, legal answer is that anyone conducting irregular fighting activity overseas is subject to British legislative sanction.

“That is unlawful activity and can be dealt with on their return to the UK.”

Mr Hammond said that parents and schools have a responsibility to help prevent young people from travelling abroad to take part in the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

‘Parents have responsibilities’

He said he had spoken to Turkey’s foreign minister on Saturday about what action can be taken to stop would-be jihadists from western countries crossing the country’s border with Syria in order to sign up with Islamic State.

I think this particular case of the three schoolgirls from east London has identified some weaknesses. Philip Hammond

“Turkey is doing huge amounts and I would like to record publicly our appreciation of the support we get from the Turkish authorities, but we are all learning as we go and I think this particular case of the three schoolgirls from east London has identified some weaknesses and things we can improve,” said the foreign secretary.

“But it’s also identified some steps that people in the community could take to keep us safe as well.

“Parents have responsibilities, schools and community workers have responsibilities, as well as the authorities and airports and airline operators.

“It’s about coming together in this case to protect children – minors, juveniles – who must be protected from themselves, going about something that will be deeply damaging to their own interests as well as our national security interests.”