Mother's desperate plea for son held in Syria without trial for nearly a decade
Sally Lane, the mother of British-born detainee Jack Letts, has issued an urgent appeal for his repatriation to either the United Kingdom or Canada. This comes as the United States initiates a significant operation to transfer thousands of Islamic State-linked prisoners from Syria to neighbouring Iraq.
Her son, now aged 30, has been held in Syrian detention facilities without facing any formal trial since his capture in May 2017. Lane expressed profound concern that he might face the death penalty if transferred to Iraqi authorities under the current American-led operation.
Uncertain fate amid international prisoner transfer
The situation has become increasingly precarious following recent military developments in Syria. Last week's outbreak of fighting has left the future of Letts and approximately 7,000 other prisoners from up to seventy different nations hanging in the balance.
"We've heard absolutely nothing. They think we don't deserve to know," Lane stated regarding the lack of communication from both Canadian and British authorities. She revealed she has been "frantically trying to find out as much as possible" about her son's potential fate.
It remains unclear whether Letts would be:
- Transferred to Iraq, where he could face capital punishment
- Remain detained within Syria under changing control
- Potentially repatriated to Canada or the UK following American diplomatic pressure
Background of a controversial detainee
Jack Letts, who was raised in Oxford, travelled to join Islamic State territories in Syria and Iraq at the age of eighteen during the early phases of the group's so-called caliphate. He had converted to Islam two years earlier and left sixth form education due to documented mental health challenges.
Following his capture by Syrian Kurdish forces in 2017, British authorities stripped him of his UK citizenship in 2019, leaving him solely with Canadian nationality through his father's heritage. This legal move has complicated diplomatic efforts regarding his status and potential return.
In limited media interviews from detention, Letts has made contradictory statements about his involvement with the extremist organisation. "I'm not going to say I'm innocent. I'm not innocent. I deserve what comes to me," he told ITV seven years ago. However, in a more recent 2024 interview with Canadian television, he claimed he was never a formal member of IS and had been imprisoned by them on three separate occasions.
International diplomatic manoeuvres
The United States Central Command unexpectedly announced the commencement of prisoner transfers last week, with approximately 150 of the most dangerous inmates already airlifted to Iraq. American officials have stated this operation will take "days not weeks" to complete.
Lane believes her son is unlikely to be among the initial high-priority transfers. "Jack's small fry. He's mostly been held in local prisons. He's high profile only because he's been in the news," she remarked, suggesting he may remain in Kurdish-controlled facilities for the time being.
Diplomatic discussions have intensified, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani about expediting prisoner transfers to "secure facilities" in Iraq. Both nations emphasised ongoing efforts to ensure countries rapidly repatriate their citizens for potential prosecution.
British government response and broader context
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed she had been "in touch" with American counterparts regarding the Syrian situation, highlighting shared counter-terrorism interests between the UK and US. However, she made no direct reference to the prisoner transfer operation or Jack Letts's specific case.
The United Kingdom has previously repatriated sixteen women and children with British connections since 2022. Before last week's offensive, approximately fifty-five individuals with British links were believed detained in Kurdish facilities, including the controversial case of Shamima Begum.
Lane maintains that if authorities possess evidence of terrorism offences, they should prosecute her son in either Canada or Britain rather than leaving him in indefinite detention. "If there's evidence, put them on trial. But there is no evidence," she asserted, highlighting the legal limbo facing numerous detainees.
The mother's plea underscores the complex humanitarian, legal, and diplomatic challenges surrounding foreign nationals detained in conflict zones, particularly as military situations evolve and international priorities shift.
