Jack Letts has been described as a “popular schoolboy” who was “funny, energetic and loud,” however that reputation seems to have been forever tarnished with last week’s reports that he had joined Daesh. Countless media outlets published articles describing him as a Daesh extremist—even a frontline fighter—who had a wife and child, and went by the war name Abu Muhammad.
With a photo published of him allegedly in a camouflage shirt near the Tabqa Dam near Raqqa, it was all pretty convincing. People were quick to believe it.
So I went to school near this ISIS white convert. Looked him up on Facebook, we have several mutual friends. Mad. https://t.co/SUi2EOgMfc
— Ned Donovan (@Ned_Donovan) January 24, 2016
Until his mother claimed it was all false.
She dismissed the reports as “absolutely ridiculous,” saying that he had gone to Syria for “to help kids” in refugee camps.
“He is not a member of Isis...He does not have a son and is not known as Abu Mohammed,” she told the Evening Standard.
Soon after, the Independent reported that they had exclusively seen Facebook messages from Letts in which he shared his thoughts about being described as a Daesh fighter.
“Its sort of awkward when the media thinks your ISIS and your not. Thinks you have a son and you dont. Thinks your married when your not,” he reportedly wrote.
This raised the question of how the media had gotten it so wrong.
I wonder if ""Jihadi Jack"" can sue? https://t.co/MKMynQ8yNW
— Susanna Forrest (@Susanna_Forrest) January 26, 2016
The messages attributed to him are in line with what his mother said, so case closed?
Not quite. Just yesterday it emerged that he had reportedly been posting some questionable comments and messages on Facebook.
Among other messages, he allegedly told a friend, “your not my mate. My mates died fighting and killing your countries brainwashed soldiers and its servants in the east.”
While this absolutely does not conclude that he is a Daesh fighter, it certainly raised eyebrows for many of those who did not believe his story.
Of course, the whirlwind of confusion has led to many people and media outlets jumping to conclusions surrounding the young Brit. However at this moment in time, according to his mother, authorities have said that there is no evidence to suggest he has done anything wrong.
