Skip to main content
Canadian spook smuggled school girl Shamima Begum into Syria, new book reveals
Revelation prompts fresh calls for her to be allowed to return to Britain and her citizenship restored
Shamima Begum

SHAMIMA BEGUM was smuggled into Syria by an agent working for Canadian intelligence, according to a new book that has prompted fresh calls for her to be allowed to return to Britain. 

Ms Begum, who was 15 when she and two other east London schoolgirls — Kadiza Sultana, 16 and Amira Abase, 15 — travelled to Syria in 2015, are said to have been trafficked there by a people-smuggler who was working as a double agent for Islamic State and Canada. 

The shocking revelations, detailed in Richard Kerbaj’s book, The Secret History of the Five Eyes, published on Thursday, also include suggestions that Britain conspired with Canada to cover up its role in the smuggling operation. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENT: At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis Baraa Heikal mourns over the body of his brother Fadi Heikal, killed in an Israeli strike, May 10 2026
Policing / 14 May 2026
14 May 2026

The Met Police's refusal to act against British nationals accused of war crimes in Gaza is a green light for Israel's genocide, writes CLAUDIA WEBBE

Students march against the military dictatorship, 1966
Features / 9 May 2026
9 May 2026

Newly revealed documents reveal that MI5 taught Brazilian secret police the techniques deployed by the 1964-85 military dictatorship in horrific prisons like Rio de Janeiro’s House of Death. SARA VIVACQUA reports

ABUSE IGNORED: Children walk through Rotherham, one of the many northern towns ripped apart by decades of systematic grooming
Features / 20 June 2025
20 June 2025

To quell the public anger and silence the far right, Labour has rushed out a report so that it can launch a National Inquiry — ANN CZERNIK examines Baroness Casey’s incendiary audit and finds fatal flaws that fail to 'draw a line' under the scandal as hoped