Members of British Islamic State terrorist group dubbed 'The Beatles' by hostages sentenced to eight life sentences in US federal court on Friday for kidnapping and killing freelance journalist James Foley was handed down. Participated in the detention and killing of three other Americans.
The 34-year-old El Shafee Elsheikh's sentence was handed down on the day he marked his eighth anniversary from Foley's murder. . The incident was broadcast worldwide in a chilling decapitation video by ISIS. Ersheikh was also found guilty and convicted of the kidnapping and murder of journalist Stephen Sotloff, human rights activist Kayla Mueller, and aid activist Peter Kasig.
Elsheikh, who was captured in Syria with fellow "Beatles" Alexander Cotey in 2018, was declared the most notorious and highest ranking by prosecutors during a sentencing hearing in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. described as a person. The quartet took 26 of his Westerners hostage, and in Syria he murdered four Americans and several British and Japanese.
Kotey was sentenced to life in prison in her April.
Journalist James Foley at his AP in Boston in May. Answering questions in an interview with him. 2011.
Steven Senneh/AP, Files
Judge Friday's Ellis described the crime as horrifying, citing Elsheikh's involvement in Mueller's sexual abuse, his decision to provide false testimony to law enforcement, and his role as leader of the group.
By prior agreement with Britain, neither Elsheikh nor Korty was put to death. Another member of this group, Mohamed Emwazi, was killed in a drone strike in Syria in 2016. A fourth member, Aine Leslie Davis, was arrested in Turkey and extradited to the UK on terrorism charges earlier this year.
After the judgment, Elsheikh immediately appealed to the court, finding the council invalid. "I think you were a hard worker," Ellis told the defense.
James Foley's mother, Diane Foley, addressed Elsheikh directly in testimony on Friday, saying, "Love is much stronger than hate. I feel sorry for Elsheikh."
She told reporters on Friday that more than 67 US citizens are currently being held abroad and held hostage.
In an appeal to President Joe Biden, Foley said, "I ask President Biden to keep these innocent people from dying in captivity like our sons and daughters."
After the death of his son, Foley defended Americans held hostage abroad, and sought to bring the Americans home quickly. established the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, which promotes the safety of journalists in
she added, "This ruling allows anyone who dares to kidnap, torture, or kill an American citizen abroad." I make it clear to all who have committed: Justice in the United States will find you wherever you are, and our government will hold you accountable for crimes against our citizens."
Diane Foley, mother of James Foley, Central, accompanied by Karl and Marsha Mueller 2022 8 Kayla Mueller's parents speak to members of the media after El Shafee El Sheikh's sentencing was handed down in the Alexandria, Virginia, District Court on Jan. 19.
Andrew Harnik/AP
Parents of Kayla Mueller Marsha and Carl Mueller told reporters on Friday that they were not. The couple, who gave up looking for their daughter's remains, are working with a private organization to find Kayla and find out exactly what happened to her daughter, they told reporters, FBI director Christopher Wray.
The 26-year-old woman was on a humanitarian mission in Turkey in August 2013 when she crossed the Syrian border to go to a hospital. Later, he was abducted by ISIS. In February 2015, US authorities confirmed that she had died in ISIS custody.
Elsheikh declined to speak at Friday's sentencing. "We had hoped he would appeal, but we weren't surprised he did," Marsha Mueller told reporters.
Carl Mueller told her Elsheikh. about:
Both families say they have met Coty. Marsha Mueller told reporters that Korty "has shown a clear sense of remorse" and is grateful for that. In this case, he stressed the need for the government to act quickly in order not to make the process of repatriating them more complicated. During the last 18 months, he has spoken harshly of the Obama administration, saying that "we had every opportunity to bring [Kayla] home."
"They have definitely learned their lesson, and our children have paid the price. In the future, if our government behaves like so many others, I hope it brings people home.Eighteen months.”