Supreme Court ‘signed my son’s death warrant,’ mother says of refusal to hear plea

The mother of a Canadian man detained in Syria, Sally Lane, is devastated by the recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to close the door on hearing her son’s case. Jack Letts has been detained in northeastern Syria for several years, and his family has been tirelessly fighting for his repatriation. Sally Lane expressed her exhaustion and desperation, stating, “I’ve been screaming about this for 7 1/2 years now. I’m exhausted. I just want my son back.”

The Supreme Court’s decision comes after a Federal Court of Appeal ruling that Ottawa is not legally obligated to bring Letts and three other Canadian men back to Canada. Despite efforts by their lawyers to challenge this ruling and seek reconsideration, the Supreme Court ultimately rejected their plea.

The detained Canadian men are among many foreign nationals held in overcrowded and unsanitary detention centers run by Kurdish forces. Letts, who converted to Islam and ended up in Syria after studying in Kuwait, was captured by Kurdish forces while trying to flee the country with a group of refugees in 2017.

In January 2023, Federal Court Justice Henry Brown ordered the Canadian government to request the repatriation of Letts and the other men from the dire conditions they were being held in. However, this decision was overturned by the Federal Court of Appeal, leaving the men in limbo.

Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon, who represents two of the anonymous men, expressed disappointment at the Supreme Court’s decision and hinted at the possibility of lodging a complaint with the United Nations about the government’s inaction.

The recent death of a Canadian woman who had escaped from a detention camp in northeastern Syria has further highlighted the urgent need for action. Human rights activists and lawmakers have called on Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to conduct an impartial investigation into the woman’s death and provide support to her six young children who are now in Canada.

Joly has pledged to prioritize the investigation and support for the woman’s children, but details about the government’s actions remain unclear. Greenspon emphasized the importance of uncovering the truth behind the woman’s death and ensuring that justice is served.

As the families of detained Canadians continue to fight for their loved ones’ repatriation, the Supreme Court’s decision has dealt a severe blow to their hopes for a resolution. The need for accountability and action on behalf of these individuals remains paramount, as they languish in dangerous and uncertain conditions in Syria.