John Letts, father of Jack Letts, British Muslim convert and an alleged member of ISIS, announces plans to secure repatriation of Canadians who travelled to Syria during a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 29, 2018. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale's office says the United Kingdom has "off-loaded their responsibilities" in revoking the citizenship of a British-Canadian man imprisoned in Syria. A statement released today from Goodale's office says "Canada is disappointed" that the U.K. government stripped Jack Letts of his British citizenship. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
August 18, 2019 - 2:30 PM
OTTAWA - Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale's office says the United Kingdom has "off-loaded their responsibilities" in revoking the citizenship of a British-Canadian man imprisoned in Syria.
A statement released today from Goodale's office says "Canada is disappointed" that the U.K. government stripped Jack Letts of his British citizenship.
Letts, who was dubbed "Jihadi Jack'' by the U.K. media, has been detained in a Kurdish prison for about two years after he travelled to Syria to support the Islamic State group.
Goodale's office says it is aware of multiple Canadian citizens detained in Syria, but consular services will not be provided "to undue risk in this dangerous part of the world."
The statement also says there is no legal obligation to facilitate their return to Canada.
A statement from the Home Office says revoking British citizenships is one way it counters terrorist threats, but it says the government does not comment on idividual cases.
Goodale's office says Canadians involved in terrorism or violent extremism must be held accountable for their actions.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2019