The father of Shamima Begum, a British-born teenager who travelled to Syria to join Islamic State, has urged the government not to revoke her UK citizenship.

“My child was only 15 years old when she fled [to Syria], she was immature,” Ahmed Ali said in an interview with the Associated Press. “I would ask the British government not to cancel her citizenship, to return her citizenship, and if she is guilty, bring her back to Britain and give her punishment there.”

Begum, now 19, said last month she wanted to return home for the health of her then unborn child. But the home secretary, Sajid Javid, ordered her citizenship to be revoked. Begum, who gave birth days after telling a journalist of her desire to return, has since said she wished she had kept a low profile. She and her son are said to have been moved to another camp nearer the Iraqi border.(theguardian)…[+]