No, a teen did not join Isis because he missed the Ucas deadline indy100 indy100 Indy100 logoNewsletter sign upRegister/Sign inTop 100NewsViralPoliticsCelebritiesScience & TechVideoWishlistWishlistBooksFashion & BeautyFood & DrinkHome & GardenKidsSports & FitnessTechTravel & OutdoorsMoreScience & techVideoConversationsSportIdentitiesLifestyleShowbizTVSearchxNews

No a teen did not join Isis because he missed the Ucas deadline

Dina RickmanDec 27, 2014 Several papers today carry the story of one "Jonathan Edwards", a jihadist who allegedly joined Isis because he missed the Ucas deadline. The story is sourced from a tweet by Abū Dāwūd, who claims to be a "journalist reporting on foreign affairs" on his Twitter profile. Just one problem: he made it all up. Dāwūd singles out the Mail in his criticism but the claim was repeated in the Times(£) and Metro - and all three pointed out the information was unverified. According to a reverse image search, the picture first emerged earlier in December. While there there is no certainty about whether it is genuine or the identity of the boy involved, we do know that the Ucas deadline has not yet passed (it is 15 October for Oxbridge, and January for everywhere else.) As Shiraz Maher, a senior fellow at ICSR (International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence), King’s College London, notes: "The "jihadi" Jonathan Edwards story should be a lesson to the media to verify Syria news before publishing. We constantly said this was fake." More: Isis extremists force shopkeepers in Iraq to veil mannequinsKeep reading...Show less

In Pictures Borough Market s Harvest Festival a feast for the eyes

100-year-old former Wren among first to receive lovely card from the King

Maternity consultant turned artist to unveil new works at art fair

Please log in or register to upvote this article

Top 100

Man endures ' 29 hour flight' with screaming kids for the entire trip

flightplanechildflightOct 12, 2022

How likely is it that Boris Johnson could be prime minister again

Boris Johnsonboris johnsontory leadership contesttory leadership racetory leaderTory leadershiptory leadershipConservativesconservative partyConservative Partyconservative leadership raceconservativesBoris JohnsonOct 21, 2022

The Rocky career of Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnsonthe rockblack adamwweDwayne JohnsonOct 21, 2022

Lorraine Kelly hits out at Madonna' s ' boiled egg' face

madonnamadonnalorraine kellygmbshowbizplastic surgeryOct 11, 2022

Elon Musk is actually selling a ' Burnt Hair' fragrance

elon muskthe boring companyperfumeelon muskburnt hairOct 12, 2022

Jon Stewart slams Arkansas attorney general for her ' anti-trans law'

lgbt+transgenderlgbt+jon stewartapple tvarkansasus newsnewsOct 11, 2022

Every time Keir Starmer mercilessly roasted Liz Truss at PMQs today

liz trussLiz Trusspmqsprime ministerprime minister's questionspoliticskeir starmerliz trussOct 19, 2022

Keir Starmer makes hilarious swipe at Liz Truss' new ' book title'

keir stamerkeir starmerliz trusspmqsLiz Trussprime ministerpoliticskeir stamerOct 19, 2022

Just Stop Oil protester praised for ' great' explanation of soup stunt

just stop oilOct 19, 2022

Couple spark debate for ' scandalous' wedding cake topper

wedding cakeOct 12, 2022

Love Island star shows extent of how far influencers edit photos

Love IslandOct 11, 2022

Steven Seagal describes Putin as one of ' greatest world leaders'

steven seagalOct 10, 2022

Lizzo wears empowering shirt after being fat-shamed by Kanye West

lizzoOct 10, 2022

Ranking every modern prime minister' s resignation speech

prime ministerOct 20, 2022The Conversation (0)