Dear Belly,

You ask - "Bring IS fighters home?"

I feel very strongly about this subject.
These people made their choice. Let them
now live with the choice they made.

I watched that British woman asking to be
allowed to go "home". Yet she showed no remorse
for the actions of these extremists that she
supported - nor for what they
have done both in
Britain and overseas. People like her do not
deserve to be allowed back to the country that
they betrayed. Surely, in war, when you support
the enemy - you're considered a traitor to
your own country - and you lose your citizenship?

I don't know what civil courts have to do with war.

They're POW's and should be held in military prisons until hostilities cease. If that's never, so be it.

Dear Foxy,

This Reddit comment has clarified my stance on the issue and I agree with it.

"Revoking citizenship is unheard of for good reason. Next time the UK wants to deport someone undesirable they've just opened the door to other countries saying no and revoking their own citizens rights to return. There is a reason why this isn't done, Javid knows this and knows he will lose in the courts so really this is just red meat for the more and more right wing Tory base.

Secondly, she was born in the UK, raised in the UK and educated in the UK. At the end of the day - she isn't Syria's responsibility and unless they plan to detain her she is the UK's responsibility and the UK should live up to it's responsibility and look to detain her or rehabilitate her.

You have Huntley's and Bellfields sitting in jail in the UK. They are infinitely worse than Shamima and are guilty of actual murder and murderous crimes. They were however given due process, a trial and a sentencing. Shamima has received no due process and yet the UK is punishing her. She deserves to be punished and held accountable - but after she is investigated and charged, not summarily with no scope to defend herself.

If you don't value due process then fair enough - but I can tell you it's the difference between utter authoritarianism or worse, and a civilised society. Due process is one of the most important rights we have but it hasn't been afforded to Shamima.

Finally - she was groomed as a 13/14 year old, married off at 15. She has never been outside that bubble since and is now most likely quite indoctrinated. She is surrounded by extremely vicious people who would murder her in her sleep if she spoke out."

Cont..

Cont..

"She should be brought back to the UK and ultimately will be when the Home Offices little dog and pony show is over. It should annoy you that they are breaking international law and their own guidelines to show off how right wing they are.

She should be investigated and her culpability established. Was she willing, was she groomed, how did it happen what is the context and at that point society can decide how she should be punished.

This entire affair is just another embarrassment for the UK and honestly the attitude on reddit has been really disappointing. People refusing to scratch even a small amount below the surface and making up their mind without showing much of an understanding of what may have happened in this instance."

End quote.

Thanks for that Steele, absolutely correct in that particular case. It most likely applies to many other cases as well, some involving Australian citizens.

The forums rabid right bunch of bloodhounds always has the simplistic answer; "shoot the bastards!". That might work in theory, but sometimes the wrong bastards get shot.

I'm asked; So, what would you do with those fighters?

I would bring those that Australia is responsible for back to Australia. Not because I want to give them a warm bed, and three square meals a day. Being in Australia we would have better control and monitoring than if they were roaming freely around some lawless state in the Middle East. No simplistic answers.

How about we give them a kayak & they can paddle to Australian waters where the Navy can pick them up up & transfer them straight to prison with a cell that has a cyanide tablet that can be accessed by smashing a small window.