Jihadi Jack could avoid prosecution as a Canadian

Uk-raised Isil recruit may benefit from legal loophole as he seeks new nationality through father

THE Muslim convert nicknamed Jihadi Jack has appealed to Canada to take him after being stripped of his British citizenship – as it emerged that he will escape prosecution there.

Reacting to the decision to revoke his citizenship, Jack Letts, 23, who left Britain to join Isil in 2014 and is being held by the Kurds in northern Syria, said: “I was expecting something like this, to be honest.

“I’ve been here for two and a half years and the British Government has not helped me at all. These things have very little meaning to me, to be honest. I don’t think British citizenship is a big deal.”

Letts, who has previously admitted he was an enemy of Britain and said he would have loved to become an Isil martyr, has dual nationality through his Canadian father, John, 58, and has held a Canadian passport.

He told ITV News: “I’ve always felt I am Canadian, my Dad is Canadian, and I never grew up being accepted as a British person anyway.”

“But, in the same way Britain hasn’t helped me … Canada has done nothing. I always thought Canada was a better country, I had this illusion.

“I hope Canada does take me from here. I could go there, to prison of course. If I’m really a Canadian citizen, why haven’t they taken me by now?”

The decision to revoke Letts’s citizenship has placed him at the centre of a diplomatic row. Canada accuses Britain of “offloading” its responsibilities.

John Mckay, chairman of Canada’s committee on public safety and national security, said yesterday that if Letts came to Canada, he would escape prosecution for joining Isil through a loophole in Canadian law.

He said: “We are between a rock and a hard place. Our legislation works on the assumption – actually stated in legislation – that you have to leave from Canada in order to be prosecuted for a terrorist offence. We are unable to initiate any prosecution.”

He described Britain’s decision to revoke Letts’ citizenship as “gutless”.

“This young man, however misguided he is, is entirely a British subject,” said Mr Mckay.

“He is raised in Britain, he was educated in Britain. Everything about him is British.

“The only formal connection he has with Canada is through his father. Frankly, I don’t think it’s the way two allies should be treating each other.”

A spokesman for Ralph Goodale, the Canadian public safety minister, said: “Canada is disappointed that the UK has taken this unilateral action to offload its responsibilities.”

Although he said Canada was aware of some of its citizens who were being held in northern Syria, the spokesman added: “There is no legal obligation to

‘The British Government has not helped me at all. I don’t think British citizenship is a big deal’

facilitate their return. We will not expose consular officials to undue risk in this dangerous part of the world.”

It is expected Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, will raise Letts’s case with Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in Biarritz this weekend.

In his interview, Letts maintained he had never killed or enslaved anyone. “I only ever fought the Syrian regime which killed one million people.

“I’m not a murderer. I’ve never tortured anyone. I’m just a person who made a stupid mistake.”

He added that he had given up hope of seeing his father and mother Sally, who were given suspended jail sentences in June for funding his activities, face to face. “Speaking to them on the phone would be great,” he said. “I have absolutely no rights. I can’t even speak to my mum so how can I speak to a lawyer?”