Aug 19, 2019 04:42 AM
(This post was last modified: Aug 19, 2019 04:56 AM by C C.)
(Canada & UK communities) https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/canada/...f-british/
EXCERPT: Federal officials say Britain is shirking its responsibilities by revoking the citizenship of a man dubbed “Jihadi Jack” by media, leaving the alleged terrorist imprisoned in Syria with solely Canadian citizenship. Jack Letts, a British-born son of two Canadian citizens, has been held in Kurdish prison for two years and faces allegations he may have once been a fighter for the Islamic State.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office confirmed that Mr. Letts’s British citizenship has been revoked and in a statement on Sunday expressed frustration with the actions of the Britain’s Home Office. “Canada is disappointed that the United Kingdom has taken this unilateral action to off-load their responsibilities,” the minister said, adding that countries should be working together on security matters.
Dozens of Canadians and their families are believed to be stuck in makeshift prison camps set up in Syria, as the Islamic State’s hold on parts of that country and Iraq has largely collapsed. While some governments have sought to repatriate their citizens to prosecute them, others like the U.K. have decided to revoke the citizenships of men and women held in the same detention centres as hardened Islamic State fighters.
Investigating, arresting and prosecuting Canadians involved in terrorism is a serious federal responsibility, according to Mr. Goodale’s office. However, Mr. Letts’s case presents logistical issues[1]. “The Government is aware of some Canadian citizens currently detained in Syria. There is no legal obligation to facilitate their return. We will not expose our consular officials to undue risk in this dangerous part of the world.”
[...] Mr. Letts’ father, John Letts, is calling on Canada to bring Mr. Letts home and punish him if he’s found to have ties to the terror group. The elder Mr. Letts said he and his wife have lived through an ordeal since their son left for the Middle East five years ago when he was 18. ... Mr. Letts said he was not surprised when he learned a month ago that his son’s citizenship was stripped ... “It’s disappointing that this is how the British government deals with its issues," he added. "Part of me thinks that Canada is a far more enlightened and democratic place than Britain. That doesn’t mean I think Canada is at all soft on terrorism.”
The family has not spoken to their son in more than four years. Their last communication with him, via a messaging app, was just before he was jailed. John Letts said he doesn’t know for sure his son is still alive, but he does worry about his mental and physical health. Human-rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who met with the younger Mr. Letts during his captivity, has said there are signs he has been tortured.
Mr. Letts’s case has been a favourite of the British media since they first labelled him as a terrorist. To Mr. Letts’s critics, he’s a Briton who converted to Islam, went to a war zone and became a fighter for the Islamic State. The 24-year-old himself has denied ever being in the Islamic State and has told reporters that he resisted their rule while living in their de facto capital, the Syrian city of Raqqa. He has said he was tortured by the Islamic State and was escaping their territory when he was captured by Kurdish militias who have been armed by the United States.
[...] “Justin Trudeau must assure Canadians today that he isn’t trying to bring Jihadi Jack back to Canada,” Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said in a statement ... No law requires Canada to take back people held in camps over allegations they may have joined the terror group. (MORE - details)
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[1] (Feb 2018) The lawyer representing his [Jack Lett's] family in Ottawa, Paul Champ, said there's been no ambiguity in his conversations with officials and the only hurdle appears to be the logistical challenges involved in getting him out of Syria. Part of the problem is that Letts is being held not by a country but by the Kurdish YPG militia, which has been targeted by Turkey in military operations and by various rival factions in Syria. "The Kurds don't simply want to release him and have him walk out door, and so the question is who they are going to hand him over to," said Champ. "The Canadian army is not active in Syria and there are a number of different armed groups that are in that region. Canada does not have any diplomatic presence in Syria, so the question is really a logistical one about how we are going to get him out of the country." Letts is being held in a prison in Qamishli in northern Syria, along the Turkish border. Champ said he believes that, from a legal perspective, Letts can be considered a "hostage" and not necessarily a prisoner. He said Canada has an obligation to him as a citizen to render assistance. --Alleged ISIS operative 'Jihadi Jack' begs Canada to let him come here
EXCERPT: Federal officials say Britain is shirking its responsibilities by revoking the citizenship of a man dubbed “Jihadi Jack” by media, leaving the alleged terrorist imprisoned in Syria with solely Canadian citizenship. Jack Letts, a British-born son of two Canadian citizens, has been held in Kurdish prison for two years and faces allegations he may have once been a fighter for the Islamic State.
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office confirmed that Mr. Letts’s British citizenship has been revoked and in a statement on Sunday expressed frustration with the actions of the Britain’s Home Office. “Canada is disappointed that the United Kingdom has taken this unilateral action to off-load their responsibilities,” the minister said, adding that countries should be working together on security matters.
Dozens of Canadians and their families are believed to be stuck in makeshift prison camps set up in Syria, as the Islamic State’s hold on parts of that country and Iraq has largely collapsed. While some governments have sought to repatriate their citizens to prosecute them, others like the U.K. have decided to revoke the citizenships of men and women held in the same detention centres as hardened Islamic State fighters.
Investigating, arresting and prosecuting Canadians involved in terrorism is a serious federal responsibility, according to Mr. Goodale’s office. However, Mr. Letts’s case presents logistical issues[1]. “The Government is aware of some Canadian citizens currently detained in Syria. There is no legal obligation to facilitate their return. We will not expose our consular officials to undue risk in this dangerous part of the world.”
[...] Mr. Letts’ father, John Letts, is calling on Canada to bring Mr. Letts home and punish him if he’s found to have ties to the terror group. The elder Mr. Letts said he and his wife have lived through an ordeal since their son left for the Middle East five years ago when he was 18. ... Mr. Letts said he was not surprised when he learned a month ago that his son’s citizenship was stripped ... “It’s disappointing that this is how the British government deals with its issues," he added. "Part of me thinks that Canada is a far more enlightened and democratic place than Britain. That doesn’t mean I think Canada is at all soft on terrorism.”
The family has not spoken to their son in more than four years. Their last communication with him, via a messaging app, was just before he was jailed. John Letts said he doesn’t know for sure his son is still alive, but he does worry about his mental and physical health. Human-rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, who met with the younger Mr. Letts during his captivity, has said there are signs he has been tortured.
Mr. Letts’s case has been a favourite of the British media since they first labelled him as a terrorist. To Mr. Letts’s critics, he’s a Briton who converted to Islam, went to a war zone and became a fighter for the Islamic State. The 24-year-old himself has denied ever being in the Islamic State and has told reporters that he resisted their rule while living in their de facto capital, the Syrian city of Raqqa. He has said he was tortured by the Islamic State and was escaping their territory when he was captured by Kurdish militias who have been armed by the United States.
[...] “Justin Trudeau must assure Canadians today that he isn’t trying to bring Jihadi Jack back to Canada,” Conservative MP Pierre Paul-Hus said in a statement ... No law requires Canada to take back people held in camps over allegations they may have joined the terror group. (MORE - details)
- - - footnote - - -
[1] (Feb 2018) The lawyer representing his [Jack Lett's] family in Ottawa, Paul Champ, said there's been no ambiguity in his conversations with officials and the only hurdle appears to be the logistical challenges involved in getting him out of Syria. Part of the problem is that Letts is being held not by a country but by the Kurdish YPG militia, which has been targeted by Turkey in military operations and by various rival factions in Syria. "The Kurds don't simply want to release him and have him walk out door, and so the question is who they are going to hand him over to," said Champ. "The Canadian army is not active in Syria and there are a number of different armed groups that are in that region. Canada does not have any diplomatic presence in Syria, so the question is really a logistical one about how we are going to get him out of the country." Letts is being held in a prison in Qamishli in northern Syria, along the Turkish border. Champ said he believes that, from a legal perspective, Letts can be considered a "hostage" and not necessarily a prisoner. He said Canada has an obligation to him as a citizen to render assistance. --Alleged ISIS operative 'Jihadi Jack' begs Canada to let him come here