British citizens who go fight with Islamic State insurgents in Iraq and Syria could be charged with treason under a medieval law dating back to 1351. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Thursday that any British citizen who has sworn allegiance to ISIS could be prosecuted under the Treason Act of 1351, passed during the reign of King Edward III. “We have seen people declaring that they have sworn personal allegiance to the so-called Islamic State,” Hammond told Parliament. “That does raise questions about their loyalty and allegiance to this country and about whether the offense of treason could have been committed.” Security officials estimate that some 500 British citizens are believed to be fighting with ISIS and worry that they could carry out an attack on Britain.
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