Yvette Cooper set to make decision on giving Middle East 'terror chief' citizenship in the UK

Yvette Cooper

Yvette Cooper must make a decision on giving a Middle Eastern 'terror chief' UK citizenship

PA
Holly Bishop

By Holly Bishop


Published: 15/10/2024

- 15:08

The man, known only as FGF, was a founding member of a political group proscribed as a terror organisation in his home country

Yvette Cooper is being forced to assess a citizenship application of a Middle Eastern "terror chief" who was a founding member of a radical group in his home country.

The man, known only as FGF, came to the UK in late 2012 using a special passport and business visa from his unspecified country of origin.


FGF, whose identity is protected, was a founding member of a large national opposition party. They had a strong role in promoting the Arab Springs uprisings in the nation in 2011.

That same year, FGF and several other MPs resigned from the country’s parliament after they were accused of spreading hatred and encouraging violence.

Yvette CooperYvette Cooper must make a decision on giving a Middle Eastern 'terror chief' UK citizenship PA

The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in his home nation and his citizenship was shortly revoked.

He learnt of his statelessness whilst in the UK and he quickly applied for asylum.

The Special Immigration Appeal Commission (SIAC) judge said: “The applicant applied for asylum in the UK. His application was granted about a year later. In early 2019 he was granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a refugee.”

The following year, he applied to become a British citizen however it was rejected in 2022 on the basis that he did not meet the “good character” condition.

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Arab Spring demonstrations

Peaceful demonstrators climb onto a Egyptian army tank in Tahrir Square on January 29, 2011 during the Arab Spring

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After applying for a review of the application, both the Home Office and then-Home Secretary Suella Braverman doubled down on their stance.

Braverman rejected the candidate on the grounds that he was not of “good character”. She did not set out her reasons as to how she came to this conclusion, which the SIAC permits.

However, during the appeal, it was revealed that some of the information pertaining to FGF, such as the fact that he instigated hatred in his home country, was not true.

The judgement said that their decision was “flawed” as it emerged that it was in fact his relative that was guilty of riling up violence, not FGF.

Braverman

Suella Braverman had previously rejected the application

PA

As Braverman did not explain how she came to determine that he was not of good character, the judges believe that a fresh overview of the case in light of this new information is needed.

The judges wrote: “We therefore accept that the decision is flawed for lack of adequate reasons, that it should be quashed, and that the Secretary of State should consider the matter afresh.”

The application now lies in Cooper’s hands, who must make a decision on whether FGF can be granted citizenship or not.

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