BRITAIN

BEWITCHED by propaganda on the internet, 15-year-old Shamima Begum and two of her classmates fled their homes in East London four years ago, to join Islamic State. They travelled to war-torn Syria to become jihadi brides for the brutal terror group.

As the medieval caliphate collapses, that warped adventure is now over. Begum – now 19 and heavily pregnant – has pleaded to be allowed back into Britain.

This is not from a newly-discovered loyalty to the country she abandoned and made an enemy state in her struggle, nor is it because she realises her terrible error. On the contrary. “I don’t regret coming here,” she says. “But I just want to come home to have my child.”

She has not shown one iota of contrition or repentance. Just a desire to be cared for in an NHS hospital to give birth. Given the savagery of IS – public beheadings, crucifixions and rapes – many will shudder at the prospect of her returning to these shores.

It is abhorrent she aligned herself with a group that executed British hostages and inspired atrocities on UK soil. Not unreasonably, many believe she should now lie in the bed she has made. As a government minister has said: “Actions have consequences.”

Again, many will share those sentiments. Every fibre of our being should recoil from having anything to do with Begum, who openly boasted she was “unfazed” by seeing a severed head.

With deep reluctance, however, we must accept she is a British citizen – and our responsibility. Denying her access would breach international law. It should be accepted, too, that she was a vulnerable child when groomed at her computer by evil recruiters, and, has since, been indoctrinated by jihadists in Syria.

She must be thoroughly vetted to ensure she poses no security risk, and deradicalised through government anti-terrorist programmes. If she has committed battlefield crimes, she must be punished. If not, she must help police and the security services to fight IS.

Most Britons will have no time for those who enjoy the advantages of our liberal society, then abuse it.

But offering someone the chance to atone for their mistakes – however heinous – is what separates us from the barbarians.