UK, Canada at odds over dual citizen Daesh terrorist

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - Canada on Sunday slammed its traditional ally U.K over its unilateral decision to strip a Daesh terrorist off his U.K citizenship, leaving Canada alone in shouldering responsibility for the unwanted terrorist who is also a citizen of the North American nation.

"Terrorism knows no borders, so countries need to work together to keep each other safe," a statement by Canadian Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale’s office said.

"Canada is disappointed that the United Kingdom has taken this unilateral action to off-load their responsibilities," it added.

Jack Letts, also known as the Jihadi Jack, has been a source of tension between the two countries. He travelled from Britain to Syria in 2014 to join Daesh and has been taken arrested by another terror group, YPG, for the past two years. In an interview with a U.K.-based ITV channel in February, Letts said he wanted to return to Britain.

The statement added that Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Canada’s Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland discussed the case of Letts in Toronto earlier this month.

"While we are disappointed in their decision, we do not conduct tit-for-tat diplomacy. Canada and the UK continue to work closely together on a number of issues, including the situation in Hong Kong," the statement said.

Ahead of Canadian elections in two months, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is due to meet his British counterpart Boris Johnson at a Group of Seven meeting in France that starts on Aug. 24.