Brendan O’Neill Brendan O’Neill

The twisted logic of Shamima Begum’s defenders

(Photo by Laura Lean – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Shamima Begum is back in the news. Firstly because she’s had a makeover. She can be seen on the front page of today’s Telegraph sporting long, flowing locks, trendy shades and Western clothing. Is Shamima the Islamist now aspiring to be Shamima the celeb? Perhaps she’s angling for her own reality TV show: The Real Housewives of Raqqa.

But the second reason she’s in the news is because the British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor has expressed sympathy for her. He says she’s a victim of British racism. I really wish Sir Anish would stick to what he’s (very) good at — public art installations — and leave the Shamima business alone. Because his comments are risible.

They aren’t only factually wrong — they’re morally wrong, too.

Whether wittingly or unwittingly, Kapoor and Akunjee are granting Shamima moral authority

In a statement co-authored with Tasnime Akunjee, the Begum family’s lawyer, Kapoor rages against what he sees as Britain’s mistreatment of Ms Begum.

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