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89630
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2014-08-29more like thismore than 2014-08-29
answering body
Home Office more like this
answering dept id 1 more like this
answering dept short name Home Office remove filter
answering dept sort name Home Office more like this
hansard heading Middle East more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) British citizens, (b) British residents holding dual passports and (c) British residents holding foreign passports who left the UK in 2014 to fight for the (i) Israeli Defence Force in Gaza, (ii) Koma Komalên Kurdistan in Syria and Iraq and (iii) ISIS Islamic State in Syria and Iraq in 2014; and what his policy is in each such case. more like this
tabling member constituency Newport West more like this
tabling member printed
Paul Flynn remove filter
uin 207355 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer remove filter
answer text <p><strong>We do not hold data on British nationals fighting with the Israeli Defence Force: many foreign nationals (including British nationals) serve in the IDF, and also hold dual (Israeli) nationality. We do not hold data on British nationals fighting with the Koma Komalên Kurdistan in Syria/Iraq.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>We believe that more than 500 individuals from the UK have travelled to Syria since the start of the conflict. It is estimated half of these have returned. We judge that a significant minority of UK extremists currently fighting in Syria are affiliated with ISIL. British citizens fighting with proscribed terrorist organisations would clearly pose a threat to the UK should they return. Such individuals are among our primary counter-terrorism concerns.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against travel to a particular place when we consider the risk to British nationals is unacceptably high. Anyone who does travel is putting themselves in considerable danger. The best way for the public to help is to donate to registered charities that have ongoing relief operations.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Those who become involved in fighting abroad can potentially be prosecuted under UK law on their return including under terrorism or other offences. Fighting in a foreign conflict is not automatically an offence but will depend on the nature of the conflict and the individual's own activities.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Any allegation of an offence will be a matter for investigation by the police. Whether an individual is arrested or prosecuted will always depend on the facts and circumstances of the case and is an operational decision for the police and Crown Prosecution Service. Safeguards are built in to our legislation and we rely on the police and Crown Prosecution Service to make sure that prosecutions are pursued in appropriate cases. Whether any specific act falls within the definition of terrorism and whether any individuals or groups have committed an offence will always depend on all facts and circumstances of the case. Prosecutions can only be sought where the Crown Prosecution Service is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of any offence having been commissioned and that it is in the public interest to prosecute.</strong></p><p> </p>
answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup more like this
answering member printed James Brokenshire more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-11-20T15:49:46.68Zmore like thismore than 2014-11-20T15:49:46.68Z
answering member
1530
label Biography information for James Brokenshire more like this
tabling member
545
label Biography information for Paul Flynn more like this