UK Nationals returning from Syria Debate

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Department: Home Office

UK Nationals returning from Syria

Desmond Swayne Excerpts
Monday 18th February 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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First, it is worth pointing out again that the Foreign Office’s advice when it comes to Syria, for many years now, has been that it is very dangerous. No British citizen should be travelling to Syria. If a British citizen has ignored that advice, they will know that there is no consular support there and that we have no diplomatic relations with Syria. If the individual concerned is a foreign fighter who went to join a terrorist organisation to kill, rape and cause enormous damage, there is no way that this Government will risk the lives of British personnel—British soldiers, Foreign Office officials or others—to go and rescue such a person. No way.

Desmond Swayne Portrait Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)
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When we cannot prevent their return, what about internment until they have been sufficiently quarantined?

Sajid Javid Portrait Sajid Javid
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My right hon. Friend might be reassured to know that when we cannot prevent someone’s return, we will in all cases seek to question them, investigate them and, where appropriate, prosecute them. Even if they are mono-national, if they are British citizens, we can strip them of their passport, have temporary exclusion orders and manage their return.