British IS members must be allowed to return home, says Trump’s terror chief
Sebastian Gorka said Britain should repatriate citizens held in Syrian prison camps to cement the special relationship with the US
The UK should take back British members of so-called Islamic State being held in Syrian prison camps, Donald Trump’s incoming counter-terrorism chief has said.
Sebastian Gorka said any nation which wishes to be seen as a “serious ally” of the US should commit to the international fight against the extremist group by repatriating citizens held in the north east of the country.
He added this applied “doubly” to Britain and suggested the move would help to cement the transatlantic “special relationship” under Trump’s second presidency.
In an interview with the Times, Mr Gorka said: “Any nation which wishes to be seen to be a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment” when asked if the UK should be forced to accept Isis members back.
“That is doubly so for the UK which has a very special place in President Trump’s heart and we would all wish to see the ‘special relationship’ fully re-established.”
The paper reported that up to 20 women, 40 children and 10 men from Britain are being held in camps.
Among them is Shamima Begum, who last year lost her final appeal against the Home Office’s decision to strip her of her UK citizenship on national security grounds.
The 24-year-old was stripped of her citizenship after she travelled from London to Syria with two school friends in 2015 to join Islamic State, leaving her stateless.
Mr Gorka’s intervention is the latest signal from the president-elect’s inner circle of his incoming administration taking a more robust approach towards Washington’s allies.
Trump has also threatened to impose global tariffs on imports, which experts have warned would damage international economies.
A Government spokesperson said: “Our priority remains to ensure the safety and security of the UK. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the UK from those who pose a threat to our security.”
With the Press Association
