British fighters in Syria?

[Boosted LS1]

I keep hearing on the news that they may be arrested and charged on their return to the UK but nobody seems to say what the charges are? Anybody got any ideas?

[Snowboy]

On the radio it said something about terrorist offences.

[akita1]

Simple don't let them back in.

[Dan_1981]

I'm confused by this a little - if you had immigrated to Europe, or Aus or the US or somewhere and suddenly the UK was plunged into civil war

Would you want to come back and fight for the cause you believed in or would you stay well clear?

[jurbie]

Will the same apply to British Ukrainians who decide to defend Ukraine from Russia?

[Snowboy]

I think it comes down to whether you're a member of a recognised 'army' or not.
Army including things like militia, resistance etc.
You can also be a paid contractor (mercenary).

It's all in the Geneva convention somewhere.
Something about wearing a recognised uniform with a flag on it.
Civilians with guns are terrorists or spies.

From a practical perspective I think it also depends which side eventually wins, whether you're on the winning side and whether the winning side are allies of your home country or not.

[anonymous-user]

proscribed organisations.

[Boosted LS1]

I wasn't aware that we had jurisdiction in Syria though. I certainly don't want terrorists over here but if I pinched a Mars bar in a Syrian shop could I be arrested by our bib for it? I doubt it, hence my wondering what charges they could level on a 'fighter' operating out of this country. The police seem to have made a lot of hints and threats but been vague. I'm just curious.

[SVTRick]

Let as many want to leave go and don't try and stop them.
Cancel their passports
Don't let them ever come back

[Boosted LS1]

SVTRick said:

Let as many want to leave go and don't try and stop them.
Cancel their passports
Don't let them ever come back

We're probably not allowed to do that. Those people in Brussels will be banging on about their human rights.

[Aretnap]

The Terrorism Act 2000 creates some extra territorial offences, which can be committed by a British resident or national while overseas. It also makes a foreign national who carries out a terrorist attack on British nationals abroad guilty of an offence in the UK.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/part/V...

It only applies to offences committed for the purposes of terrorism (defined elsewhere in the act), so you couldn't be prosecuted in Britain for nicking a Mars bar from a Syrian shop.

[Boosted LS1]

Aretnap said:

The Terrorism Act 2000 creates some extra territorial offences, which can be committed by a British resident or national while overseas. It also makes a foreign national who carries out a terrorist attack on British nationals abroad guilty of an offence in the UK.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/11/part/V...

It only applies to offences committed for the purposes of terrorism (defined elsewhere in the act), so you couldn't be prosecuted in Britain for nicking a Mars bar from a Syrian shop.

Ah, thanks for that. I'll have a read of it.

[Lost soul]

Dan_1981 said:

I'm confused by this a little - if you had immigrated to Europe, or Aus or the US or somewhere and suddenly the UK was plunged into civil war

Would you want to come back and fight for the cause you believed in or would you stay well clear?

But they all seem to be of Pakistani origin

[TooMany2cvs]

Boosted LS1 said:

SVTRick said:

Let as many want to leave go and don't try and stop them.
Cancel their passports
Don't let them ever come back

We're probably not allowed to do that. Those people in Brussels will be banging on about their human rights.

Nothing to do with the EU, and everything to do with basic international law - no state can render a citizen stateless by withdrawing nationality. If somebody has dual nationality, then - fair game - because you're not leaving them stateless.

BTW, you might like to have a little delve into the relationship between the EU and the ECHR, and the history of the convention. But, before you do that, feel free to let us all know which of the 18 convention articles it is you disagree with...?
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.p...

[Mermaid]

Lost soul said:

But they all seem to be of Pakistani origin

So it is British Pakistani Muslims we are talking about,

British tars us all with a brush.

[Boosted LS1]

TooMany2cvs said:

Nothing to do with the EU, and everything to do with basic international law - no state can render a citizen stateless by withdrawing nationality. If somebody has dual nationality, then - fair game - because you're not leaving them stateless.

BTW, you might like to have a little delve into the relationship between the EU and the ECHR, and the history of the convention. But, before you do that, feel free to let us all know which of the 18 convention articles it is you disagree with...?
http://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/Convention_ENG.p...

I haven't said I disagree with anything.

[gjf764]

akita1 said:

Simple don't let them back in.

Post of the day!

One of the morons who went killed himself as a suicide bomber

[voyds9]

Mermaid said:

So it is British Pakistani Muslims we are talking about,

British tars us all with a brush.

As your community leaders see you as an homogeneous bunch don't complain when we accept it

[Tannedbaldhead]

Nothing wrong with fighting for a cause. Many Brits fought for the International Brigades in Spain and I remember that quite a few volunteered to help the Croatians and Bosnians fight the Serbs.

If ever caught up in a civil war check that you're on the right side by making sure that you are with the boys in the jeans and tshirts and you're slotting uniforms. In most instances you'll be fighting for the good guys.

[Martin4x4]

Dan_1981 said:

Would you want to come back and fight for the cause you believed in or would you stay well clear?

Probably not unless the Scots start gassing Yorkshire with Sarin.