Jack Letts

{{Short description|Alleged ISIS member}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jack Letts

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Jack Abraham Letts

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1995|11|14}}

| birth_place = Oxford, Oxfordshire, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = {{plainlist|

  • British (1995–2019)
  • Canadian (1995–present)

}}

| other_names = Jihadi Jack

| occupation =

| education = Cherwell School

}}

Jack Abraham Letts (born 14 November 1995){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmXad5lnE_Q |title=Full episode: Our Son, the Terror Suspect {{!}} W5 |date=2024-12-01 |last=Official W5 (CTV Television Network) |access-date=2025-03-06 |via=YouTube}} is a Canadian Muslim convert, formerly of dual British-Canadian nationality, who has been accused of being a member of the Islamic State (IS).{{cite news |last=Blackwell |first=Tom |date=8 November 2017 |title=Trent University graduate John Letts urging Canada to bring home his son, known as Jihadi Jack, for Kurdish militia custody in northern India |url=http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2017/11/08/trent-university-graduate-john-letts-urging-canada-to-bring-home-his-son-known-as-jihadi-jack-for-kurdish-militia-custody-in-northern-syria |newspaper=Peterborough Examiner |agency=Postmedia Network |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108105927/http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2017/11/08/trent-university-graduate-john-letts-urging-canada-to-bring-home-his-son-known-as-jihadi-jack-for-kurdish-militia-custody-in-northern-syria |archive-date=8 November 2017 |url-status=live }} He was given the nickname Jihadi Jack by the British media.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/middle-east/article/jihadi-jack-first-white-british-boy-to-join-isis-77tgnll70sd|title=Jihadi Jack' first white British boy to join Isis|last=Kerbaj|first=Richard|date=24 January 2016|newspaper=The Sunday Times|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808153623/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jihadi-jack-first-white-british-boy-to-join-isis-77tgnll70sd|archive-date=8 August 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last1=O'Carroll |first1=Lisa |last2=Gani |first2=Aisha |date=25 January 2016 |title='Jihadi Jack' is a label invented by media, say worried parents |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/25/mother-jihadi-jack-letts-syria-humanitarian-work |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729092823/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jan/25/mother-jihadi-jack-letts-syria-humanitarian-work |archive-date=29 July 2017 |url-status=live }}

Early life

Letts was born in Oxford to a Canadian father and British mother.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/25/jack-letts-jihadi-syria-denies-he-is-fighting-for-isis|title=Muslim convert Jack Letts denies he is fighting for Isis|last=Rawlinson|first=Kevin|date=25 July 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704203308/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/25/jack-letts-jihadi-syria-denies-he-is-fighting-for-isis|archive-date=4 July 2017|url-status=live}} He attended Cherwell School.{{cite news |last=Khan |first=Shehab |date=30 January 2016 |title='Jihadi Jack' Letts interview: Former Oxford schoolboy calls on British people to convert to Islam as he brands David Cameron an 'evil creature' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jihadi-jack-letts-interview-former-oxford-schoolboy-denies-isis-calls-on-british-people-to-convert-a6843491.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618085327/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jihadi-jack-letts-interview-former-oxford-schoolboy-denies-isis-calls-on-british-people-to-convert-a6843491.html |archive-date=18 June 2017 |url-status=live }} He converted to Islam and was said by his parents to have developed severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).{{Cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=5 February 2016 |title='Parents of 'Jihadi Jack' Letts claim he has mental health condition and is not fighting for a terrorist group in Syria' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/parents-of-jihadi-jack-letts-claim-he-has-mental-health-condition-and-is-not-fighting-for-a-a6855911.html |newspaper=The Independent |access-date=12 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212084750/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/parents-of-jihadi-jack-letts-claim-he-has-mental-health-condition-and-is-not-fighting-for-a-a6855911.html |archive-date=12 December 2017 |url-status=live }} Letts attended various local mosques and learned Arabic in order to read the Quran.

Detention by Kurdish forces

Letts was detained by the Kurdish YPG militia after trying to escape from the Battle of Raqqa.{{Cite news|url=http://telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/29/jihadi-jack-has-not-heard-months-tortured-prison-parents-claim/|title='Jihadi Jack' has not been heard from for months and was tortured in prison, his parents claim|last=Kershaw|first=Tom|date=29 October 2017|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2017-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214124030/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/29/jihadi-jack-has-not-heard-months-tortured-prison-parents-claim/|archive-date=14 December 2017|url-status=live}} The BBC interviewed him from prison in June 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/05/isis-jihadi-jack-asks-to-leave-jail-to-explain-some-things-to-his-mother-6682272/|title=Jihadi Jack asks to leave jail to 'explain some things' to his mother|last=Smith|first=Adam|date=5 June 2017|website=Metro|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611072750/http://metro.co.uk/2017/06/05/isis-jihadi-jack-asks-to-leave-jail-to-explain-some-things-to-his-mother-6682272/|archive-date=11 June 2017|url-status=live}} Letts stated he was detained while seeking to escape IS-held territory.

After Letts informed his parents he was in Kurdish custody, they asked the British authorities for help. The Foreign Office replied that they could not help them, due to the lack of consular services in Syria and Iraq; they were told that British government policy was not to help any British citizens return from Syria.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Letts initially told the BBC: "I don't want anyone to help me", but later requested help returning to the UK,{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} and said he was happy to be arrested and put on trial for any crime the police claim he has committed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40445999/jihadi-jack-parents-our-son-doesn-t-hate-us|title=Jihadi Jack parents: Our son doesn't hate us|publisher=BBC|website=Victoria Derbyshire|date=29 June 2017|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406085132/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-40445999/jihadi-jack-parents-our-son-doesn-t-hate-us|archive-date=6 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{dubious|reason=Questionable...|date=October 2018}}

In October 2017, Letts' parents staged a seven-day hunger strike to bring attention to his case.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/29/jihadi-jack-has-not-heard-months-tortured-prison-parents-claim/|title='Jihadi Jack' has not been heard from for months and was tortured in prison, his parents claim|last=Kershaw|first=Tom|date=29 October 2017|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171114203835/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/29/jihadi-jack-has-not-heard-months-tortured-prison-parents-claim/|archive-date=14 November 2017|url-status=live}} They claimed their son was tortured in prison and "have not heard from him for months". On 10 November 2017, they launched a petition to "Secure the release of Jack Letts who is detained in northern Syria".{{Cite news|title=Petition: Secure the release of Jack Letts who is detained in northern Syria|work=Petitions – UK Government and Parliament}}

Throughout his time in prison, the UK government has refused to extradite Letts, a diplomatic situation in which the Canadian government has intervened. Under Canadian nationality law, Letts holds Canadian citizenship via his Canadian-born father.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} In January 2018, Canadian diplomatic officials reportedly spoke to Letts, who asked them to allow him to come to Canada. Letts's parents reportedly received a letter from the Canadian government saying it was "making every effort to assist" Letts.{{cite news|last1=Brewster|first1=Murray|title=Alleged ISIS operative 'Jihadi Jack' begs Canada to let him come here|publisher=CBC News|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jihadi-jack-isis-consular-1.4526882|access-date=7 March 2018|date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305213937/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/jihadi-jack-isis-consular-1.4526882|archive-date=5 March 2018|url-status=live}} In October 2018, Canadian consular assistance for Letts stalled, due to mounting pressure from both the Conservative opposition and the British government.{{Cite news|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4542842/canadian-officials-contact-isis-fighters-allegations/|title=Jihadi Jack wants to live in Canada. Here's what officials are doing for ISIS fighters in Syria|last1=Bell|first1=Stewart|date=15 October 2018|work=Global News|access-date=24 October 2018|last2=Russell|first2=Andrew|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024193148/https://globalnews.ca/news/4542842/canadian-officials-contact-isis-fighters-allegations/|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/father-of-terror-suspect-says-his-son-is-innocent-deserves-canadas-protection/wcm/18e5588d-e46e-4255-b8f6-07c23fe2cfa6|title=Father of terror suspect 'Jihadi Jack' says his son is innocent, deserves Canada's protection|date=18 October 2018|work=The Ottawa Citizen|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024231907/https://ottawacitizen.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/father-of-terror-suspect-says-his-son-is-innocent-deserves-canadas-protection/wcm/18e5588d-e46e-4255-b8f6-07c23fe2cfa6|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=live}}

On 22 February 2018, ITV News published an "exclusive" interview with Letts, who was under detention by Kurdish officials.{{Citation|last=ITV News|title=Exclusive: Homesick 'Jihadi Jack' wants to return to UK but 'no one cares' about him|date=2019-02-22|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvbfpcsgj8M|access-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627045048/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvbfpcsgj8M|archive-date=27 June 2019|url-status=live}} In the interview, Letts requested that the British Government allow him to phone his parents (who were still in court over terrorism-funding charges). Letts also mentioned that he would prefer if the two women who were in a similar situation at that time (Shamima Begum and Hoda Muthana) would be prioritised over his own case.

Legal cases

= Parents' funding terrorism conviction =

On 9 June 2016, Letts's parents appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, charged with funding terrorism. The court heard that the couple had tried to send money to their son on three occasions between September 2015 and January 2016. Sally Lane and John Letts claim the police gave them permission to send Letts funds to help him escape from IS territory.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/10/jihadi-jack-parents-police-said-we-could-send-money/|title=Jihadi Jack parents: 'Police said we could send money'|last=Farmer|first=Ben|date=10 July 2016|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203143843/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/10/jihadi-jack-parents-police-said-we-could-send-money/|archive-date=3 December 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/britains-jihadi-jack-could-end-up-in-canadian-hands-after-months-in-the-custody-of-kurdish-militias|title=Britain's 'Jihadi Jack' could end up in Canadian hands after months in the custody of Kurdish militias'|last=Blackwell|first=Tom|date=7 November 2017|newspaper=National Post|access-date=21 November 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/jihadi-jack-parents-accused-of-funding-terror-by-sending-money-to-son-are-remanded-in-custody-a3268011.html|title='Jihadi Jack': Parents accused of funding terror remanded in custody|date=9 June 2016|newspaper=London Evening Standard|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802185206/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/jihadi-jack-parents-accused-of-funding-terror-by-sending-money-to-son-are-remanded-in-custody-a3268011.html|archive-date=2 August 2017|url-status=live}} They were remanded in custody.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-jihadi-jack-isis-militant-8151462|title=Parents of 'Jihadi Jack' ISIS militant remanded in custody after denying sending money to their son|last=Rossington|first=Ben|date=9 June 2017|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031924/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/parents-jihadi-jack-isis-militant-8151462|archive-date=21 August 2018|url-status=live}} After spending five days in prison, their bail was reinstated following a hearing at the Old Bailey.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36527984|title=IS suspect 'Jihadi Jack's' parents granted bail over terrorism offences|date=14 June 2016|publisher=BBC News|access-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911150824/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36527984|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/14/jihadi-jack-parents-accused-of-funding-terrorism-given-bail-as-j/|title='Jihadi Jack' parents accused of funding terrorism given bail as judge says 'perfectly decent people ended up in custody' over 'love of child'|last=Reporters|first=Telegraph|date=2016-06-14|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2017-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821031935/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/14/jihadi-jack-parents-accused-of-funding-terrorism-given-bail-as-j/|archive-date=21 August 2018|url-status=live}}

Appearing at the Old Bailey in June 2016, they denied three counts of funding terrorism, and were released on conditional bail. A trial was set for January 2017,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36604638|title='Jihadi Jack' parents to face terror trial in January|date=23 June 2016|access-date=14 June 2017|publisher=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013033028/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-36604638|archive-date=13 October 2017|url-status=live}} but the case was delayed as the couple was given permission to challenge the charges against them 'on a point of law' in the Supreme Court.{{Cite news |last=Gibb |first=Frances |author-link=Frances Gibb |date=2017-09-11 |title=Parents in legal fight over money for 'Jihadi Jack' |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/this-article-has-been-removed-fqgkqbpll |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005030438/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/parents-in-legal-fight-over-money-for-jihadi-jack-fqgkqbpll |archive-date=5 October 2017 |access-date=1 October 2017 |newspaper=The Times}} Their trial at the Old Bailey continued on 22 May 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48372230|title=Parents 'ignored warnings over IS fighter son', court hears|website=BBC News|date=22 May 2019|access-date=9 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621175902/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48372230|archive-date=21 June 2019|url-status=live}} and on 21 June 2019 they were found guilty of funding terrorism, for sending their son £223, and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48676894|title='Jihadi Jack' parents funded terrorism|date=2019-06-21|access-date=2019-06-21|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629050228/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-48676894|archive-date=29 June 2019|url-status=live}}

= Repatriation =

Jack's parents have been campaigning for their son's release ever since.{{cite web |last1=Lane |first1=Sally |title=Free Jack Letts |url=https://freejackletts.com/ |website=Free Jack Letts |access-date=30 March 2024}} A Canadian delegation consisting of a Senator, diplomat, human rights advocate and lawyer were able to visit Jack in the Syrian prison where he was being held in August 2023 and gather evidence related to the conditions of his detention.{{cite web |last1=Pate |first1=Senator, Kim |title=Jack Letts and other Canadians held in Syria deserve proper justice |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-jack-letts-and-other-canadians-held-in-syria-deserve-proper-justice |publisher=Ottawa Citizen |access-date=30 March 2024}}

In March 2024, the legal team retained by Jack's parents took the rare step of seeking a reconsideration and full hearing before the Supreme Court of Canada against a decision by the Federal Court of Appeal that International Law does not obligate Canada to repatriate him. The Canadian Supreme Court refused to hear the case.{{cite web |last1=Bronskill |first1=Jim |title=Four Canadian men held in Syria ask Supreme Court to revisit request for hearing |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/four-canadian-men-held-in-syria-ask-supreme-court-to-revisit-request-for-hearing/article_5ce17d27-ad13-5243-a44d-c4a61c1b0d80.html |website=Toronto Star |date=26 March 2024 |access-date=30 March 2024}}

British citizenship revoked

In June 2019, after his parents' trial, the BBC reported an interview with him in 2018, in which he said IS used to "encourage you in a sort of indirect way" to put on a suicide vest. He said he made it obvious to militants at the time that "if there was a battle, I'm ready", but that he now believes suicide attacks are forbidden in Islamic law.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48624104|title=Jack Letts, Islamic State recruit: 'I was enemy of UK'|date=21 June 2019|access-date=22 June 2019|publisher=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622004707/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48624104|archive-date=22 June 2019|url-status=live}}

On 18 August 2019 it was reported that the British government had revoked Letts' British citizenship. However, the Home Office declined to comment on the case.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49385376|title=IS recruit Jack Letts loses UK citizenship|work=BBC News |date=18 August 2019}} In response, Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale described the move as a "unilateral action to off-load [the UK's consular] responsibilities," leaving Canada responsible for further diplomatic assistance for Letts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/jihadi-jack-citizenship-uk-canada-1.5251437|title=Canada disappointed after UK reportedly strips Jihadi Jack citizenship|date=August 18, 2019|work=CBC News|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite news

|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41784827

|title = 'Jihadi Jack' charged with being IS member, Kurdish officials say

|work = BBC News

|author = Emma Vardy

|date = 2017-10-28

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180821033550/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-41784827

|archive-date = 21 August 2018

|access-date = 2017-11-08

|url-status = live

|quote = His parents have denied he went to Syria to fight with IS, and started a petition claiming he had "disappeared in a Guantanamo-style black site" in Kurdish-controlled territory.

}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Letts, Jack}}

Category:Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant members from the United Kingdom

Category:People from Oxford

Category:British Muslims

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:Converts to Islam

Category:Canadian people of British descent

Category:Canadian Muslims

Category:Canadian Islamists

Category:Denaturalised citizens of the United Kingdom

Category:British people of Canadian descent

Category:British emigrants to Syria

Category:Living people

Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder

Category:1995 births

Category:British people with disabilities

Category:21st-century Canadian people