Richard Samuelson has written a letter defending the family of Jack Letts

I have only contempt for Isis and all its works, but it breaks my heart every time I hear more news of the torment Jack Letts’ family have gone through since he left his Oxford home to join the terrorist state in Syria five years ago.

In 2003, I had the privilege of working alongside Jack’s father, John Letts, in the Free West Papua Campaign shortly after Benny Wenda, the Papuan independence leader and former political prisoner, had escaped from an Indonesian prison and found safety and asylum in Oxford.

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John Letts and Sally Lane both gave strong practical and loving support to Benny and his family as he and his family began their new lives thousands of miles from their homeland.

And John worked tirelessly (on top of his day job as an agricultural historian) to raise awareness of Indonesia’s brutal and illegal occupation of West Papua.

I only remember Jack Letts’ home in those days as full of welcome and compassion.

I hope with all my heart that Sally, John and please God sometime Jack too, can make a new life together in Canada in peace.

Richard Samuelson

Free West Papua Campaign

Middle Barton

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

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