The jihadist from the ‘Beatles’ commando of the Islamic State who beheaded a hostage is sentenced to life in prison – laSexta

Published: Friday, August 19, 2022 10:37 PM A US federal judge sentenced this Friday to life in prison the jihadist El Shafee Elsheikh, a member of the Islamic State (EI) terrorist group who was part of the cell known as the “Beatles” , for the kidnapping of Westerners in Syria a decade ago, who in some cases were beheaded. Elsheikh, captured in 2018 by Kurdish militias in Syria, is the highest-ranking IS member ever sentenced on US soil, the Justice Department said in a statement. A member of the cell known as the “Beatles” because of his British accent, this jihadist was tried for his participation in the 2014 kidnapping of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and humanitarian workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. Foley, Sotloff and Kassig were beheaded and their deaths videotaped as propaganda, while Mueller was selected by IS chief Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi to be his personal hostage, during which time she was repeatedly raped. before being killed. The Assistant Attorney General of the United States, Lisa O. Monaco, remembered, in a statement, the families of the murdered American journalists and pointed out that “their tireless search for justice in the midst of unimaginable pain” is what inspired the Department of Justice and the FBI to conclude this case. And she added that this sentence is a reminder for those who “dare” to threaten Americans: “No matter where you hide or how long it takes, we will find you and bring you to justice,” she added. Elsheikh was also involved in the kidnapping and murder of Britons David Haines and Alan Henning, and Japanese Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. In addition, he was part of the group that kidnapped Spanish journalists Javier Espinosa, Ricard García Vilanova and Marc Marginedas in Syria. Javier Espinosa, who was held in Syria for six months, described Elsheikh as the “craziest” and “most brutal” terrorist of those who kidnapped him. During the trial held in Alexandria (Virginia, USA), Elsheikh confessed that he had been part of that cell and explained that, among other things, he was in charge of contacting the families to show that the hostages were still alive and asking them to a reward for his release. The Virginia jury found him guilty last April, and he was sentenced this Friday to life in prison.