In her last interview, the 21-year-old said she didn’t think she was a terrorist and insisted that she didn’t need to be rehabilitated. In fact, the former East London schoolgirl said she “would love” to help rehabilitate others. Ms Begum, who was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019, donned a completely different look in the interview, wearing jeans, a t-shirt and other Western fashion accessories.
Ms Begum, who left Britain to join the Islamic State in 2015, was interviewed at al-Roj prison camp in Syria by journalist Andrew Drury.
She was wearing pale blue skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, a Nike baseball cap and was holding a small clutch.
Her long black hair was frayed and her fingernails painted bright red.
The style contrasts sharply with her previous image of a jihadist bride wearing a hijab and headscarf.
Ms Begum said her change of look made her “happy”.
She also insisted that she was ready to return to the UK and did not need rehabilitation.
She said: “I don’t think I was a terrorist. I think I was just a stupid kid who made a mistake.
“Personally, I don’t think I need to be rehabilitated, but I would like to help other people to be rehabilitated. I would love to help. ”
But social media users are not convinced by Ms Begum’s change of mind and want the government to ensure she is not allowed to return to the UK.
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Another person said: “Never! She chose her path. ”
While one person fumed, “Omg if I’m not tired of pleading. You stay there.
“You are a risk that you have turned against this country now you want to come back.”
But other social media users were more sympathetic and noted that Ms Begum was only 15 when she decided to join IS.
They wrote: “So 15 year olds can’t vote, can’t have children… it’s almost like there’s a legal understanding that they’re too young to take responsibility for their own. make informed long-term decisions?
“This girl was treated, raped and her friends murdered – that makes sense.”
Other users said they “felt sorry” for the 21-year-old.
