More than 400 individuals who left the UK to fight for ISIS in Syria and Iraq are believed to have returned—many re-entering British society without facing prosecution. This is not merely a legal loophole; it represents a national security blind spot. A new report is calling for urgent changes to the law—and rightly so. The question is, why has it taken so long for alarm bells to ring?
The return of ISIS fighters to Britain is not a hypothetical threat. These are individuals who actively joined one of the most violent extremist groups in modern history—a group responsible for mass executions, sexual slavery, and terrorism across the globe. The UK government’s approach—revoking citizenship in some high-profile cases, passively monitoring others, and prosecuting very few—has been inconsistent and, some would argue, dangerously lenient.
The root of the issue lies in the current legal framework. The burden of proof required to prosecute returning fighters under existing terrorism laws is high, particularly when much of the evidence lies in war zones beyond the reach of British investigators. As a result, many returnees are subject to limited surveillance or de-radicalisation programmes, which may not be sufficient to assess or neutralise potential risks.
What is needed is not a knee-jerk crackdown but a smart recalibration of our laws to address the complexities of modern terrorism. Legislation should be updated to make it a clear criminal offence to support or train with designated terrorist groups abroad, regardless of whether a specific act of violence can be proven. There should also be greater investment in international intelligence cooperation and the documentation of war crimes.
Beyond the legal gaps, there is a moral question: what message does this send to victims of ISIS, to communities radicalised by their propaganda, and to those who believe in justice? Turning a blind eye undermines public trust and emboldens extremist networks who interpret the lack of consequences as a green light.
This is not about vengeance. It is about safeguarding democracy, ensuring justice, and closing the door on impunity. If we do not act decisively now, we risk allowing history to repeat itself—only next time, the consequences could be far deadlier.
@newdaystarts
