Emwazi father says no proof his son is 'Jihadi John'

Published March 4, 2015
Media and experts have identified Emwazi, pictured here, as the Islamic State group militant believed to be responsible for beheading at least five Westerners. -Reuters
Media and experts have identified Emwazi, pictured here, as the Islamic State group militant believed to be responsible for beheading at least five Westerners. -Reuters

KUWAIT CITY: The father of “Jihadi John” said in an interview published Wednesday that there was no proof that his son was the Islamic State executioner, adding there were a number of “false rumours” circulating.

“There is nothing that proves what is being circulated in the media, especially through video clips and footage, that the accused is my son Mohammed, who is being referred to as the alleged executioner of Daesh (Islamic State),” Jassem Emwazi told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas.

The daily said it spoke to the father of Kuwait-born Mohammed Emwazi at a secret location in his first media interview following accusations that his son is the jihadist who killed several Western hostages.

“I have a message to the Kuwaiti people that many of the rumours are false,” he told the daily.

“Because I felt that some people have believed it, I have assigned a lawyer to defend me and to prove ... that what is being said is untrue,” he said.

It was not clear why he appeared to be retracting statements reported earlier that he and his wife had recognised their son's voice.

His lawyer Salem al-Hashash said he would from Sunday file lawsuits against those who made accusation against Emwazi senior and his family.

Hashash said his client was interrogated by the interior ministry for three hours and was released because there was no suspicion about him.

A lawyer had been appointed in Britain to defend family members there, Hashash said.

Mohammed Emwazi, the alleged executioner, was born in Kuwait to a stateless family of Iraqi origin. His parents moved to Britain in 1993 after their hopes of obtaining Kuwaiti citizenship were quashed.

Emwazi visited Kuwait several times, the last time between January 18 and April 26, 2010, Al-Qabas said.

A year later, he was denied entry to Kuwait after his name came up during investigations into attacks in Britain.

Media and experts have identified Emwazi as the Islamic State group militant believed to be responsible for beheading at least five Westerners.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...