Muslim couple who headed for Syria 'do not pose risk to their children', says court

Asif Malik and Sara Kiran will not have their four young children taken into care and can have their British passports returned, High Court rules

Asif Mali

A Muslim couple who sparked an international alert when they were feared to be travelling to Islamic State with their four young children have been handed back their passports by a judge.

Sir James Munby, the president of the Family Division of the High Court, said reports by social workers concluded Asif Malik and Sara Kiran, from Slough, Berks, no longer pose a risk to their children.

CCTV images of Asif Malik boarding a ferry at Dover (Thames Valley Police)  Photo: Thames Valley Police

The couple and their four offspring – aged between seven and 12 months - were detained in Turkey in April and deported to Moldova before returning to Britain.

While they were on the run Anjem Choudary, the radical Muslim cleric, confirmed Mr Malik had been a member of the banned group al-Mujahiroun and described him as a "champion for shariah" who regularly attended the group's events.

“The very welcome co-operation of the parents ? has continued.”

Sir James Munby

On their return he children were made wards of court but Mr Justice Munby said he would agree to revoke that order after hearing police were taking no action against the couple and social workers did not support care proceedings.

The judge said: “The very welcome co-operation of the parents … has continued.”

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He added that a social worker’s report on the family said: “It is my assessment that the intervention of the state has been a wakeup call for this couple.

“It is my assessment that their current beliefs do not pose a risk or will compromise the safety of their children.

“[They] are good parents and they are able to care for all their children. I see no reason whatsoever to remove the children from their care.”

Sir James said: “Having regard to all that material, and all the other evidence before me, I had no hesitation in agreeing with the course proposed by the local authority, endorsed by the guardian and agreed by the parents. “

Sir James Munby  Photo: BRIAN SMITH FOR THE TELEGRAPH

He lifted the wardship order on the children and allowed the family’s passports to be returned.

The judge also quoted from a submission to the court by the family which said they “wish to put the incident behind them and concentrate on being the best parents for their children.”

The family left the UK by ferry from Dover on April 7 without telling family or friends.

Their disappearance was not reported to the authorities for nine days.

All six of the family travelled on British passports and senior police officers said it was feared they were heading to Syria.