SHAMIMA BEGUM lost an appeal today against the removal of her British citizenship, in a decision widely condemned by human rights groups. 

The 24-year-old’s lawyers vowed to “keep fighting” after the Court of Appeal dismissed her case. 

Ms Begum lost her first appeal against the decision to revoke her citizenship on national security grounds when the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled against her last year. 

She was 15 years old when she travelled to Syria to join jihadist group Islamic State (Isis) in 2015 and was later found in a refugee camp in the war-torn country.

Today, three judges at the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Ms Begum’s bid to overturn the SIAC decision. 

Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr said that any arguments over the consequences of the judgement, which could include an attempt to appeal at the Supreme Court, would be adjourned for seven days. 

In a summary of the decision, Baroness Carr, sitting with Lord Justice Bean and Lady Justice Whipple, said Ms Begum had “made a calculated decision to travel to Syria” and align with Isis.

It said: “The only task of the court was to assess whether the deprivation decision was unlawful.

“Since it was not, Ms Begum’s appeal is dismissed.” 

But Steve Valdez-Symonds, of human rights group Amnesty International, said: “Banishing citizens is a punishment from the medieval era and should have no place in the modern world.   

“Isis has been responsible for appalling crimes in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, but that doesn’t change the fact that Begum is British and was groomed and trafficked to Syria. 

“The UK should be helping its citizens stranded in dangerous circumstances in Syria, not barring their safe return to the UK.” 

Reprieve director Maya Foa said: “This whole episode shames ministers who would rather bully a child victim of trafficking than acknowledge the UK’s responsibilities. 

“Stripping citizenship in bulk and abandoning British families in desert prisons is a terrible, unsustainable policy designed to score cheap political points.  

“Rather than demonise Shamima Begum, ministers should reckon with the institutional failures that enabled Isis to traffic vulnerable British women and girls. 

“If the government thinks that Shamima Begum has committed a crime, she should be prosecuted in a British court. Citizenship-stripping is not the answer.” 

Downing Street and the Home Office said they were “pleased” with the Court of Appeal’s ruling and that their priority continued to be maintaining Britain’s safety and security.