Future security threats arising from the UK’s deprivation of citizenship: a model to understand the human rights-security risk landscape

Following the collapse of the Islamic State, the issue of “Returning Foreign Fighters” became a dominant global problem. The securitised response adopted by many states is a cause for concern, particularly in relation to human rights. Men, women and children with a range of physical and psychological trauma are now situated in camps across northeastern Syria, posing a complex security threat. The situation in these camps is far from secure, and the risk of radicalisation and indoctrination (among the children in particular) is high. Through the development of a model of risk analysis which emphasises both security risks and human rights risks, this paper presents an innovative exploration of the phenomenon of women and children associated with ISIS in north-east Syria. The impact of this study is wide-reaching and is intended to provide a foundation for resolving the heightened security threat these individuals pose in the medium and long terms.