Shamima Begum: Mother’s Day card with ISIS bride banned

A Mother’s Day card featuring the ISIS bride Shamima Begum has been banned from the online shop Etsy.

Illustrator Samuel Hague made the card with the Jihadi schoolgirl’s image on it and with the words “Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks for not joining ISIS”.

Mr Hague has been criticised for other cards he has made, including a Father’s Day card with Jimmy Saville on it saying ’Thanks for never letting Jim fix it for me’.

Ms Begum was one of three schoolgirls to leave Bethnal Green to join Islamic State in 2015.

The 19-year-old had her British citizenship revoked by Home Secretary Sajid Javid last week after trying to return to the country with her baby son.

Ms Begum has claimed the government’s decision to revoke her citizenship is “unjust”, but there are fears that more IS supporters will want to return to the UK if Ms Begum is able to.

Etsy sent a message to the illustrator saying: “While Etsy encourages sellers to express their personal views and ideas in their listings, we do not permit items or listings that promote, support or glorify hatred.

“We also prohibit items that promote, support or glorify acts of physical or sexual violence against individuals or groups.”

Mr Hague said that public response to his card, which he was charging £2.99 for, had been “mostly positive”.

The description on Etsy for the card purchase said: “The perfect mother’s day card for anyone with a sense of humour”.

Speaking to The Sun last year, the artist said: “I choose to express myself through comedy and art.

“That resonates with some people but will offend others.”

Twitter user Simon G tweeted in response to the illustrator saying he had been banned: “The politically correct brigade is still in control of the pendulum letting it swing wildly out of sync with reality.

“Government go with it for the populist vote not concerned about the ramifications.”

Another Twitter user, @Arl1002, said: “Why permanently and no warning? still don’t agree with it – but an outright ban?”

Meanwhile, former counter-terrorism police chief Scott Wilson has said ‘floodgates could be opened’ for Islamic State supporters returning to the UK if Ms Begum succeeds in getting back into the country.

Mr Wilson said: “I can see floodgates opening. I don’t think we should make it easy. If you make it easy then you’re just opening the floodgates for it and suddenly you’re monitoring people forever.

“I don’t sound very sympathetic because I just see the consequences. I dealt with London Bridge on the streets.”

Home Secretary Sajid Javid claimed he decided to revoke her of her citizenship as she qualified for Bangladeshi citizenship through her mother.

However authorities in Bangladesh have said they will not let her enter the country.