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The mother of a Briton feared to have joined the Islamic State in Syria today denied he was a terrorist - and insisted he was just doing “humanitarian work”.

Jack Letts, 20, has been dubbed “Jihadi Jack” after leaving his home in Oxford to travel to the war-torn country a year ago.

But today his mother Sally angrily defended her son, saying it was “absolutely ridiculous” to suggest he had become the first white British youth to join IS in Syria.

She said the family were in regular contact with their son, who yesterday told them he was “bemused” by reports which claimed he now went by the name of Ibrahim or Abu Muhammed.

He was also reported to be living with his Iraqi wife and son Muhammed after moving to the Iraqi city of Fallujah from Raqqa.

Sally, a former books editor, told the Standard: “He is not a member of IS, he is very probably not the first white convert that has gone out there. He does not have a son and is not known as Abu Mohammed.

“We spoke to him yesterday and he said he had never had a weapon in his life.

“He went out there for humanitarian purposes to help kids in Syrian refugee camps.

“It is not as if he is hiding anything - he tells us what he has for breakfast.

“All this is absolutely ridiculous, it is shocking.”

The family conceded they were hugely concerned for their son’s wellbeing, particularly now he had been identified.

They added that police, who have been investigating them for over a year, have told them there is “no evidence he has done anything wrong”.

Sally said: “We are worried sick. He is in danger every single moment of the day.

“He is very naive, very misguided. He wanted to do good in the world and wanted to see for himself. The fact is he did not see the danger or think about his own safety.

“We wake every single morning not knowing whether he is alive or dead.”

Jack attended Cherwell School in Oxford, where peers said he was a keen sportsman and supporter of Liverpool FC.

It is thought he began to take an interest in the Middle East during the Arab Spring in 2011.

Sally added they did not oppose Jack converting to Islam, despite being “pretty well secular” themselves.

“We were not against it. He is entitled to choose his religion.”

Jack told his mother and father John - a leading organic farmer who has appeared on BBC’s Countryfile - he was planning to travel to Kuwait to study Arabic.

He only informed them he had subsequently gone to Syria once he arrived, they said.

“We were in utter shock. We have been trying to convince him to come back,” said his mother.

He initially worked with refugees and most recently has been helping in a hospital.

They said they were aware he may have got married - but had not asked him directly - although he categorically denied being a member of IS when quizzed.

Sally said: “He repeatedly said he is not with IS, and he does not lie. He believes it is un-Islamic to lie and if he does he will go straight to hell, so there is no doubt whatsoever.

“He has worked in a hospital, done some teaching, done some translating...He is integrated with the population.”

She added: “There are civilians out there despite great risk to themselves and are just assumed to be terrorists. They (the media) have lost Jihadi John so Jihadi Jack fits perfectly.

“We want him (Jack) to go to a safe place.

“He is bemused by all the inaccuracies...The fact he has a son? He just laughed.

“Somehow he is supposed to be a global jihadi? It is absolutely ridiculous.”

The family have been raided by anti-terror police “repeatedly” since Jack left in 2014, Sally said, seizing computers and mobile phones.

“They have said there is no evidence he has done anything wrong, but they have to follow the legislation requirements, so anyone who has been in contact with Jack is suspected of being a terrorist,” added Sally.

Scotland Yard said it could not comment on an “active case”, but said in virtually all counter-terrorism investigations there will be a “strategy to investigate the finances of those involved”, which may also “extend to any person suspected of funding the activities of a suspected terrorist”.

A spokesman added: “What is important, and would be expected, is that we do all we can to keep people safe and investigate everyone who returns to the UK to establish if any crimes have been committed and if they are a threat to the UK.”