The British decision to strip ISIS suspect Jack Letts, known as “Jihadi Jack,” of his citizenship has sparked a diplomatic row with Canada, CNN reported on Monday.
Letts, a British-Canadian national who converted to Islam and fled his home in Oxford in 2014 to join the terrorist organization, has been in jail in northern Syria since being captured in 2017 by Kurdish forces.
Canada is upset, because Britain’s move means that the repatriation of Letts, 24, will become the responsibility of Canada, rather than the UK.
"The government of Canada is aware that the United Kingdom revoked the citizenship of Jack Letts," Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said in a statement. "Terrorism knows no borders, so countries need to work together to keep each other safe. Canada is disappointed that the United Kingdom has taken this unilateral action to off-load their responsibilities.”
The UK's Home Office, which refuses to comment on individual cases, said a decision to strip dual nationals of citizenship is "based on substantial advice from officials, lawyers and the intelligence agencies," adding that "This power is one way we can counter the terrorist threat posed by some of the most dangerous individuals and keep our country safe."
Upon his arrival in Syria at age 18, Letts had declared he was an "enemy of Britain," according to The Telegraph.
But since his capture, he said he had "no intention" of killing Britons.
Letts admitted his guilt to the British press earlier this year and expressed his desire to return to the UK.
He is among more than 120 dual nationals who have been stripped of their British citizenship since 2016.
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