OTTAWA — The mom of a Canadian man says she fears for his security behind bars in Iraq after receiving phrase from Canada’s overseas ministry he could have been transferred there from detention in northeastern Syria.
International Affairs Canada has informed Sally Lane that her son Jack Letts could be among the many detainees lately despatched to Iraq, however that Canadian officers are nonetheless working to substantiate his id.
Letts and several other different Canadian males had been among the many many overseas nationals held in detention centres future by Kurdish forces that reclaimed the strife-torn area from the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
It was revealed earlier this yr that the choice to maneuver prisoners to Iraq got here after a request by officers in Baghdad that was welcomed by the U.S.-led coalition towards the Islamic State and the Syrian authorities.
Amnesty Worldwide has warned of significant rights violations and poor circumstances in Iraq, together with overcrowded and unsanitary prisons, unfair trials and mass executions.
Lane stated that if her son is certainly in Iraqi custody, she desires Ottawa to maneuver as swiftly as attainable to deliver him to Canada.
“At that time, you understand, they need to repatriate as a result of it’s not protected,” she stated in an interview.
“I don’t need to hear any extra excuses from the Canadian authorities. I imply, in the event that they don’t really feel that they’ve obligations in the direction of their residents once they’re actually prone to torture and demise … what’s International Affairs for?”
Letts grew to become a religious Muslim, went on vacation to Jordan at age 18, then studied in Kuwait earlier than winding up in Syria. His household says he was captured by Kurdish forces whereas fleeing the nation with a gaggle of refugees in 2017.
Letts’s dad and mom have stated they’re conscious of no proof their son grew to become a terrorist fighter. They stated Jack stood towards ISIL and was even placed on trial for publicly condemning the group.
Some Canadian ladies and youngsters have been repatriated from Syria lately with assist from Canadian officers and the co-operation of Kurdish authorities.
Ottawa has declined to assist repatriate Canadian males.
The Federal Court docket of Attraction has dominated that Ottawa was not obligated beneath the legislation to repatriate Letts and three different Canadian males. The Supreme Court docket of Canada declined in 2024 to listen to an attraction of the ruling.
The Related Press reported final month that the 1000’s of grownup male detainees transferred to Iraq from Syria included overseas nationals from Europe, Australia, the USA and Canada.
Matthew Behrens, coordinator of the group Cease Canadian Involvement in Torture, lately denounced “the unlawful nature of those compelled transfers” and flagged the “brutal detention circumstances in Iraq, our issues about unfair investigations and trials, and the distinct concern of execution.”
The group lately submitted a quick to the United Nations urging it to name on Canada to instantly repatriate all detainees from the area, a few of whom have been held virtually 9 years with out fees.
In response to questions from The Canadian Press, International Affairs stated the security and safety of Canadians “at all times stay the utmost precedence for the federal government of Canada whereas assembly needed authorized obligations.”
“Canada is conscious of the switch of detainees from Syria to Iraq, together with experiences of Canadian residents being transferred,” the division stated. “Canadian consular officers stay actively engaged with native authorities and worldwide companions within the area to substantiate this data.”
Lane acquired a message from International Affairs Canada on Feb. 13 saying that whereas Letts could also be amongst these despatched to Iraq, the knowledge the division had was incomplete and never a direct match for his title on file.
Within the e-mail, which Lane shared with The Canadian Press, International Affairs stated it had contacted Iraq’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs requesting affirmation of the id of the people in custody.
“Whether it is Jack, we’ll ask for an replace on his well being and well-being, request quick consular entry, and convey our expectation that detainees be handled humanely and in a way per worldwide legislation,” the message stated.
“We’ll proceed to advocate for the honest and equal therapy of any Canadian detainees,” it added. “Moreover, we’re participating with a number of senior Iraqi officers to acquire readability on the place detainees are being held and to hunt to raised perceive Iraq’s plans for the detainees who’ve been transferred.”
International Affairs additionally stated it was participating with related worldwide organizations and civil society teams working within the area for data on and assist for detained Canadians.
A follow-up message stated that as of Monday, the division was nonetheless working to substantiate Letts’s id.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 4, 2026.
— With information from The Related Press
Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press