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| 'Jihadi Jack' charged with being Isis member, Kurdish officials say | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 21-year-old man has been charged with being a member of Isis, officials from the Kurdish region of Syria have said. | |
| Originally from Oxford, Jack Letts, also known as “Jihadi Jack”, travelled to Syria in 2014. | Originally from Oxford, Jack Letts, also known as “Jihadi Jack”, travelled to Syria in 2014. |
| He was later captured by the Kurdish-led YPG, opponents of the jihadi group, after leaving Isis territory. | |
| Officials confirmed he was captured in May of this year, despite Mr Letts’ claims that he is opposed to Isis. | |
| In a statement given to the BBC, the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS) said Mr Letts had been taken to a prison in Qamishi, Rojava. | In a statement given to the BBC, the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS) said Mr Letts had been taken to a prison in Qamishi, Rojava. |
| The self-declared autonomous region of Syria said the case was still under investigation by local police force, the Asayiah. | The self-declared autonomous region of Syria said the case was still under investigation by local police force, the Asayiah. |
| This is also the first time Kurdish forces have confirmed the capture of Mr Letts as a prisoner of war. | This is also the first time Kurdish forces have confirmed the capture of Mr Letts as a prisoner of war. |
| Mr Letts converted to Islam while still at school in Oxford and at 18 dropped out of his A-levels to travel to Jordan in 2014. | Mr Letts converted to Islam while still at school in Oxford and at 18 dropped out of his A-levels to travel to Jordan in 2014. |
| By the autumn of that year he was in Isis-controlled territory in Syria. He then married in Iraq and now has a child. | |
| His parents deny he travelled to Syria to fight with Isis and have started a petition to protest his innocence. It claims he is being held in a “Guantanamo-style black site” in Kurdish-controlled territory. | |
| The DFNS European representative, Sinam Mohamad, denied this. | The DFNS European representative, Sinam Mohamad, denied this. |
| Ms Mohamad’s statement said: “The Democratic Federation of Northern Syria's policy with regard to prisoners of war is clear and fair. | Ms Mohamad’s statement said: “The Democratic Federation of Northern Syria's policy with regard to prisoners of war is clear and fair. |
| “Isis brought inexplicable levels of terror on the peoples of Northern Syria/Rojava … | |
| “Despite this fact, the DFNS is not less committed than European countries to treating the fighters from this terror group according to international human rights standards.” | “Despite this fact, the DFNS is not less committed than European countries to treating the fighters from this terror group according to international human rights standards.” |
| On the petition page it states that John Letts and Sally Lane have not heard from their son since July and do not have confirmation that he is alive. | On the petition page it states that John Letts and Sally Lane have not heard from their son since July and do not have confirmation that he is alive. |
| They have said the British government has not done enough to help him. | They have said the British government has not done enough to help him. |
| However, the DFNS statement also stated that Kurdish officials were willing to hand over prisoners of war to their original country after being properly investigated. | However, the DFNS statement also stated that Kurdish officials were willing to hand over prisoners of war to their original country after being properly investigated. |
| It states that once the investigation is concluded “the outcome will be communicated to Jack’s parents”. | It states that once the investigation is concluded “the outcome will be communicated to Jack’s parents”. |
| Mr Letts also holds a Canadian passport and the statement goes on to suggest that his parents ask the Canadian and British governments to officially request the handover of the 21-year-old. | Mr Letts also holds a Canadian passport and the statement goes on to suggest that his parents ask the Canadian and British governments to officially request the handover of the 21-year-old. |
| John Letts and Sally Lane have pleaded not guilty to charges of funding terrorism by sending cash to their son, and will now bring an appeal before the Supreme Court. | |
| Their solicitor has said they have declined to comment. | Their solicitor has said they have declined to comment. |
| The Foreign Office said: “The government is unable to provide support to British nationals in Syria as the UK government does not have consular representation there.” | The Foreign Office said: “The government is unable to provide support to British nationals in Syria as the UK government does not have consular representation there.” |