Sally Lane, a mother from Canada, has called for the return of her son, Jack Letts, who is currently detained in a Syrian prison.

Letts, known as ‘Jihadi Jack,’ fled to Syria in 2014, allegedly to join ISIS.

His mother, 61, believes he should be brought back to either the UK or Canada to face trial in a fair court, rather than remain in a Kurdish-run prison camp.

She has criticized both the UK and Canadian governments for their lack of action, claiming that their refusal to repatriate him violates fundamental principles of justice.

Denial of Citizenship and Unfair Treatment

Lane, who now resides in Canada, expressed her frustration in an interview with The Mirror, explaining that Jack was stripped of his British citizenship in 2019 without any judicial process, leaving him stranded in Syria.

She likened his case to that of British volunteers fighting in Ukraine, noting that if her son had been captured while fighting there, he would have been immediately condemned by the government.

She argued that human rights should apply equally to all individuals, and criticized the British government’s stance as hypocritical.

Jack Letts’ Escape to Syria and Current Situation

Raised in Oxfordshire, Letts used money from his parents, who believed he was visiting a friend in Japan, to travel to Syria.

He initially claimed he was going to study Arabic in Kuwait, but instead joined ISIS in Raqqa.

After his capture in 2017 by Kurdish forces, he begged to return to the UK, but his British passport was revoked, leaving Canada responsible for his case.

Letts has now been imprisoned for over seven years among suspected ISIS members.

His recent interview with CTV News marked his first media appearance since 2019, where he denied ever being a member of ISIS but acknowledged his difficult circumstances.

Letts stated he would be willing to serve time in Canada if it meant escaping the conditions in Syria.

Family’s Struggles and Regret

Sally Lane has previously spoken about the distress she has witnessed in her son’s condition, describing his mental and physical decline.

She blamed both the Canadian and British governments for failing to intervene and prevent the deterioration of his health, saying that Jack could die if not repatriated.

Lane also reflected on her own feelings of guilt regarding her son’s early life, admitting that she may not have been strict enough with him during his formative years.

In her memoir, she described the chaos of their household, which she believes may have contributed to Jack’s decisions later in life.

Comparisons with Other Cases

Letts’ situation has drawn parallels to that of Shamima Begum, a British woman who traveled to Syria to join ISIS as a teenager.

Begum, like Letts, was stripped of her citizenship and is currently living in a Syrian camp, advocating for her return to the UK.

Both cases raise questions about the responsibility of Western governments to protect their citizens and ensure they are treated fairly under the law.

The Ongoing Dilemma

Letts remains one of many foreign nationals detained by Kurdish forces in northern Syria, many of whom are held without charge.

While Kurdish authorities claim to follow international human rights standards, human rights organizations have expressed concerns about the conditions in the camps.

Letts’ case, like those of others caught in the aftermath of the Syrian conflict, highlights the complex legal and ethical challenges governments face in addressing the status of foreign fighters and their families.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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