Birmingham MP Andrew Mitchell has criticised the Government's decision to strip ISIS bride Shamima Begum of her British citizenship.
Mr Mitchell, a former Conservative chief whip, said: "The Home Secretary’s decision not only has no legal basis, it is irresponsible and has all the appearance of winning the battle but losing the war.
"Stripping citizenship is a resort of totalitarian governments, not a democracy."
Shamima Begum fled east London in 2015 at the age of 15 to travel to Syria and marry an ISIS fighter.
Now aged 19, she had told reporters she wants to come home with her new baby. But her apparent lack of remorse has triggered criticism in the UK.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove, has revoked her citizenship, despite saying he would not make a decision that would render a person stateless. The decision appears to be based on a belief that she is eligible for Bangladeshi citizenship.
Her family has insisted she is not a dual citizen, and the case is pending in the courts.
Mr Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, said her comments "understandably incensed the nation" after she appeared to defend the Manchester Arena bombing.
But writing in the Sutton Coldfield Observer, he said: "Given that Ms Begum is not of dual-nationality, she is clearly a British citizen and therefore is our responsibility.
"We really shouldn’t find obscure legal arguments to palm them off onto another country, Britain meets its security obligations to the international community.
"I know from my postbag that there is scant public appetite for bringing terrorist sympathisers back to Britain. Yet, I do not think it wise nor is it in Britain’s interest to leave people stateless in ungoverned spaces, floating around or consorting with those of ill intention.
"Equally, I do not think it is controversial to ask each country to take responsibility for their own citizens, jihadists or otherwise."
Mr Mitchell said he had no sympathy for Ms Begum and was "not convinced" by claims she was a victim of ISIS grooming.
He added: "If there is evidence to suggest that she committed a crime then she should be prosecuted. She must also be assessed for the risk that she poses to Britain but equally protected against vigilantism and retribution.
"Shamima should be also be assessed to see if she is fit to be a parent and if necessary her child should be taken into care."
