Jack Letts in a picture he posted on Facebook, near the Tabqa Dam in Syria. Facebook
Jack Letts in a picture he posted on Facebook, near the Tabqa Dam in Syria. Facebook
Jack Letts in a picture he posted on Facebook, near the Tabqa Dam in Syria. Facebook
Jack Letts in a picture he posted on Facebook, near the Tabqa Dam in Syria. Facebook

British-born ISIS terrorist 'Jihadi Jack' to be repatriated to Canada


Laura O'Callaghan
  • English
  • Arabic

A British-born ISIS fighter nicknamed “Jihadi Jack” is among 23 people linked to the terror group set to be repatriated to Canada.

Muslim convert Jack Letts, 28, held dual British and Canadian citizenship when he travelled from Oxfordshire to Syria in 2014 to join ISIS.

He referred to himself as an “enemy of Britain” and spent three years with the group before being captured by western-backed Kurdish forces in 2017.

The man nicknamed “Jihadi Jack” by the British media has spent the past six years in prison in northern Syria.

The Home Office in 2019 stripped him of his British passport, rendering him the responsibility of the Canadian government.

The move sparked angry words between the two powers, with Ottawa accusing London of “offloading its responsibilities” on its ally.

Letts had pleaded with the Conservative government to allow him to return to his country of birth, pledging he had “no intention” of harming anyone.

He said that while he was “not innocent”, he had hoped to be allowed to face justice in Britain.

The Canadian government has agreed to take back 23 of its citizens — including Letts — following a court case brought against it by the detainees’ relatives.

The families argued Ottawa was obliged to repatriate the group under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Canada's foreign ministry on Friday announced its decision to repatriate six Canadian women and 13 infants. And the Canadian federal court later ruled that four men seeking repatriation as part of the group must also be sent back to Canada, said lawyer Barbara Jackman, who is representing one of the men.

In its ruling, the court cited the poor conditions of the prison where the men are detained and that they have not been charged or brought to trial.

“The conditions of the … men are even more dire than those of the women and children who Canada has just agreed to repatriate,” the ruling stated.

“There is no evidence any of them have been tried or convicted, let alone tried in a manner recognised or sanctioned by international law.”

The move came after security experts warned of a potential return of ISIS this year if the West does not step up its support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces guarding prisons and camps housing terrorists and their families.

Dr Paul Stott, head of security and extremism at the Policy Exchange think tank, told The National the SDF “are not going to be able to do this indefinitely”.

“If we don't have a resolution to this, [ISIS fighters] may break out from prisons,” he said.

“There's also the issue that some of the young people who are coming of age in these camps are of fighting age and are ideal recruits for ISIS.”

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

In numbers: China in Dubai

The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Company%20profile
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The five pillars of Islam
SECRET%20INVASION
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Asia Cup Qualifier

Final
UAE v Hong Kong

Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ENGLAND%20SQUAD
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Essentials

The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours 
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.

Asia Cup Qualifier

Final
UAE v Hong Kong

TV:
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am

Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare

Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.

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Updated: January 22, 2023, 5:35 PM`