Danny Dyer believes ISIS bride Shamima Begum and her newborn child should be allowed to return to Britain.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain earlier today, the BBC soap actor gave his take on the controversial issue after announcing the finalists for the Prince’s Trust Mentor of the Year award.
Earlier in the programme, Begum’s family lawyer Tasnime Akunjee had likened the runaway teen to traumatised World War One soldiers.
The 19-year-old, who has now fled from ISIS and gave birth in a Syrian refugee camp on Saturday, recently insisted to journalists that “a lot of people should have sympathy for me.”
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Asked for his opinion by hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway, Dyer argued Begum deserved an opportunity to explain herself further.
“Yes I do [think she should come back],” he replied.
Dyer continued: “I feel she needs a chance maybe to explain what’s going on and we can understand a bit more how they got to her and how she felt it was right to jump on plane and leave this country at 15 years of age.
“She’s still a young girl and look at the people around her. Who was looking after her? Maybe we can learn from it.”
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The 41-year-old TV star also admitted he was stumped as to why she and two friends would want to head to a war zone stronghold for terrorism, but resisted the notion Begum may have been brainwashed.
He said: “[She had] no guidance, clearly – because if you think about it… what on earth?
Dyer continued: “How has it got into her head that going to Syria at 15 years of age is the answer? What is that about? Who is there to guide her, talk to her? Why is she so lost within her soul that she thinks that’s the answer to go to Syria?”
And when presenter Madeley suggested Begum may have been “brainwashed on the internet”, the EastEnders actor responded by claiming there must be something more to it.
Danny said: “We’ve all got the internet, Rich. Are you thinking of going to Syria?
“Actually jumping on a plane at 15 to go to Syria… I don’t understand what’s going on there.”
Many of those watching couldn’t understand why anyone would care what Danny Dyer has to say about anything beyond EastEnders or his daughter’s reality TV career.
“Thick as two short planks!” tweeted one fan.
“Since when does his opinion mean anything?” asked another.
Echoing that thought, another viewer wondered: “Why did you ask Danny Dyer to ‘weigh in’ on anything?”
And a fourth concluded: “Danny Dyer, a one dimensional soap ‘actor’ giving us his opinion on current affairs. Thanks @GMB I feel so much more enlightened!”
Several others, meanwhile, felt Danny was just wrong in his analysis of the politics surrounding the jihadi bride’s situation.
“Danny Dyer has shocked me with this response,” admitted one.
“I’ve just lost all respect for Danny Dyer,” tweeted another.
And a third said: “I’m sorry, I think Danny is brilliant, but you’re wrong on this my son.”
– Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV from 6am
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