Islamic State Soldier Sentenced To Life In Us Prison For Killing American Hostages

Families and friends of the four Americans who were killed and other hostages previously held by the militant group watched as Judge TS Ellis sentenced El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, to life without parole, calling his behavior “appalling, barbaric , brutal and of course criminal.” A jury in April concluded that the former British citizen was part of an Islamic State cell, nicknamed “The Beatles” for their English accents, who beheaded American hostages in areas of the Middle East controlled by the militant group. He was found guilty of four counts of hostage-taking and four counts of conspiracy after a two-week trial. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Relatives and friends of the victims sat in the front rows of the courtroom and were visibly shaken during the hearing as tears flowed from their eyes and they comforted each other. Elsheich was sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences. At the height of its power from 2014-2017, the Islamic State ruled over millions of people and claimed or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in a quarter of Iraq and Syria in 2014, before being killed in a 2019 US special forces raid in Syria as the group’s hold on power collapsed. Elsheikh, who was born in Sudan and raised in London, was charged with conspiring to kill four American hostages: James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. Foley and Sotloff, both journalists, and Kassing, an aid worker, were killed in a video beheading. Mueller was repeatedly raped by al-Baghdadi before her death in Syria, US officials said. The deaths of Foley, Sotloff, and Kassig were confirmed in 2014. Mueller’s death was confirmed in early 2015. Members of the media gather outside Federal Court as they await statements following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British citizen and IS fighter, in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger read more Elsheikh appeared in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday wearing a gray jumpsuit, face mask and goggles. Family and friends of his victims were called to make statements before the judge. “Hate completely took over your humanity,” said Foley’s mother, Diane, who later broke down in tears. “I feel sorry for you. I pray the time in prison gives you time to think.” Friday marked the eighth anniversary of Foley’s beheading. The head of London’s police counter-terrorism command, Richard Smith, said in a statement that the families of the victims “showed remarkable fortitude and bravery in giving their accounts of what happened to investigators and the court.” The charges against Elsheikh, whose British citizenship was revoked in 2018, carry a possible death penalty, but US prosecutors had previously told British officials they would not seek the death penalty. Prosecutors argued that a life sentence was needed to prevent Elsheikh from causing future harm and to set a precedent that such crimes would be severely punished. “The Beatles were genuine psychopaths,” First Assistant US Attorney Raj Parekh argued in court Friday during the hearing, adding that Elsheikh was the highest-ranking Islamic State member ever convicted in a US court. Another member of the cell, Alexanda Kotey, was sentenced to life in prison by a US judge earlier this year. Kotey was detained in Iraq by the US military before being brought to the United States to stand trial. Last September he pleaded guilty to the murders of Foley, Sotloff, Kassing and Mueller. read more A third member of the group, Mohammed Emouazi, was killed in a US-UK missile strike in Syria in 2015. Some former hostages, released from the cell after protracted negotiations, testified during the trials about the torture they suffered. Testimonies were also given by family members of those killed. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reported by Kanishka Singh? writing by Rami Ayyub Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

title: “Islamic State Soldier Sentenced To Life In Us Prison For Killing American Hostages Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Milton Smith”

Families and friends of the four Americans who were killed and other hostages previously held by the militant group watched as Judge TS Ellis sentenced El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, to life without parole, calling his behavior “appalling, barbaric , brutal and of course criminal.” A jury in April concluded that the former British citizen was part of an Islamic State cell, nicknamed “The Beatles” for their English accents, who beheaded American hostages in areas of the Middle East controlled by the militant group. He was found guilty of four counts of hostage-taking and four counts of conspiracy after a two-week trial. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Relatives and friends of the victims sat in the front rows of the courtroom and were visibly shaken during the hearing as tears flowed from their eyes and they comforted each other. Elsheich was sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences. At the height of its power from 2014-2017, the Islamic State ruled over millions of people and claimed or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in a quarter of Iraq and Syria in 2014, before being killed in a 2019 US special forces raid in Syria as the group’s hold on power collapsed. Elsheikh, who was born in Sudan and raised in London, was charged with conspiring to kill four American hostages: James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. Foley and Sotloff, both journalists, and Kassing, an aid worker, were killed in a video beheading. Mueller was repeatedly raped by al-Baghdadi before her death in Syria, US officials said. The deaths of Foley, Sotloff, and Kassig were confirmed in 2014. Mueller’s death was confirmed in early 2015. Members of the media gather outside Federal Court as they await statements following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British citizen and IS fighter, in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger read more Elsheikh appeared in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday wearing a gray jumpsuit, face mask and goggles. Family and friends of his victims were called to make statements before the judge. “Hate completely took over your humanity,” said Foley’s mother, Diane, who later broke down in tears. “I feel sorry for you. I pray the time in prison gives you time to think.” Friday marked the eighth anniversary of Foley’s beheading. The head of London’s police counter-terrorism command, Richard Smith, said in a statement that the families of the victims “showed remarkable fortitude and bravery in giving their accounts of what happened to investigators and the court.” The charges against Elsheikh, whose British citizenship was revoked in 2018, carry a possible death penalty, but US prosecutors had previously told British officials they would not seek the death penalty. Prosecutors argued that a life sentence was needed to prevent Elsheikh from causing future harm and to set a precedent that such crimes would be severely punished. “The Beatles were genuine psychopaths,” First Assistant US Attorney Raj Parekh argued in court Friday during the hearing, adding that Elsheikh was the highest-ranking Islamic State member ever convicted in a US court. Another member of the cell, Alexanda Kotey, was sentenced to life in prison by a US judge earlier this year. Kotey was detained in Iraq by the US military before being brought to the United States to stand trial. Last September he pleaded guilty to the murders of Foley, Sotloff, Kassing and Mueller. read more A third member of the group, Mohammed Emouazi, was killed in a US-UK missile strike in Syria in 2015. Some former hostages, released from the cell after protracted negotiations, testified during the trials about the torture they suffered. Testimonies were also given by family members of those killed. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reported by Kanishka Singh? writing by Rami Ayyub Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

title: “Islamic State Soldier Sentenced To Life In Us Prison For Killing American Hostages Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-16” author: “Jeannette Jardine”

Families and friends of the four Americans who were killed and other hostages previously held by the militant group watched as Judge TS Ellis sentenced El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, to life without parole, calling his behavior “appalling, barbaric , brutal and of course criminal.” A jury in April concluded that the former British citizen was part of an Islamic State cell, nicknamed “The Beatles” for their English accents, who beheaded American hostages in areas of the Middle East controlled by the militant group. He was found guilty of four counts of hostage-taking and four counts of conspiracy after a two-week trial. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Relatives and friends of the victims sat in the front rows of the courtroom and were visibly shaken during the hearing as tears flowed from their eyes and they comforted each other. Elsheich was sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences. At the height of its power from 2014-2017, the Islamic State ruled over millions of people and claimed or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in a quarter of Iraq and Syria in 2014, before being killed in a 2019 US special forces raid in Syria as the group’s hold on power collapsed. Elsheikh, who was born in Sudan and raised in London, was charged with conspiring to kill four American hostages: James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. Foley and Sotloff, both journalists, and Kassing, an aid worker, were killed in a video beheading. Mueller was repeatedly raped by al-Baghdadi before her death in Syria, US officials said. The deaths of Foley, Sotloff, and Kassig were confirmed in 2014. Mueller’s death was confirmed in early 2015. Members of the media gather outside Federal Court as they await statements following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British citizen and IS fighter, in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger read more Elsheikh appeared in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday wearing a gray jumpsuit, face mask and goggles. Family and friends of his victims were called to make statements before the judge. “Hate completely took over your humanity,” said Foley’s mother, Diane, who later broke down in tears. “I feel sorry for you. I pray the time in prison gives you time to think.” Friday marked the eighth anniversary of Foley’s beheading. The head of London’s police counter-terrorism command, Richard Smith, said in a statement that the families of the victims “showed remarkable fortitude and bravery in giving their accounts of what happened to investigators and the court.” The charges against Elsheikh, whose British citizenship was revoked in 2018, carry a possible death penalty, but US prosecutors had previously told British officials they would not seek the death penalty. Prosecutors argued that a life sentence was needed to prevent Elsheikh from causing future harm and to set a precedent that such crimes would be severely punished. “The Beatles were genuine psychopaths,” First Assistant US Attorney Raj Parekh argued in court Friday during the hearing, adding that Elsheikh was the highest-ranking Islamic State member ever convicted in a US court. Another member of the cell, Alexanda Kotey, was sentenced to life in prison by a US judge earlier this year. Kotey was detained in Iraq by the US military before being brought to the United States to stand trial. Last September he pleaded guilty to the murders of Foley, Sotloff, Kassing and Mueller. read more A third member of the group, Mohammed Emouazi, was killed in a US-UK missile strike in Syria in 2015. Some former hostages, released from the cell after protracted negotiations, testified during the trials about the torture they suffered. Testimonies were also given by family members of those killed. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reported by Kanishka Singh? writing by Rami Ayyub Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

title: “Islamic State Soldier Sentenced To Life In Us Prison For Killing American Hostages Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-22” author: “Robert Sawyer”

Families and friends of the four Americans who were killed and other hostages previously held by the militant group watched as Judge TS Ellis sentenced El Shafee Elsheikh, 34, to life without parole, calling his behavior “appalling, barbaric , brutal and of course criminal.” A jury in April concluded that the former British citizen was part of an Islamic State cell, nicknamed “The Beatles” for their English accents, who beheaded American hostages in areas of the Middle East controlled by the militant group. He was found guilty of four counts of hostage-taking and four counts of conspiracy after a two-week trial. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Relatives and friends of the victims sat in the front rows of the courtroom and were visibly shaken during the hearing as tears flowed from their eyes and they comforted each other. Elsheich was sentenced to eight concurrent life sentences. At the height of its power from 2014-2017, the Islamic State ruled over millions of people and claimed or inspired attacks in dozens of cities around the world. Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared a caliphate in a quarter of Iraq and Syria in 2014, before being killed in a 2019 US special forces raid in Syria as the group’s hold on power collapsed. Elsheikh, who was born in Sudan and raised in London, was charged with conspiring to kill four American hostages: James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller. Foley and Sotloff, both journalists, and Kassing, an aid worker, were killed in a video beheading. Mueller was repeatedly raped by al-Baghdadi before her death in Syria, US officials said. The deaths of Foley, Sotloff, and Kassig were confirmed in 2014. Mueller’s death was confirmed in early 2015. Members of the media gather outside Federal Court as they await statements following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh, a former British citizen and IS fighter, in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger read more Elsheikh appeared in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday wearing a gray jumpsuit, face mask and goggles. Family and friends of his victims were called to make statements before the judge. “Hate completely took over your humanity,” said Foley’s mother, Diane, who later broke down in tears. “I feel sorry for you. I pray the time in prison gives you time to think.” Friday marked the eighth anniversary of Foley’s beheading. The head of London’s police counter-terrorism command, Richard Smith, said in a statement that the families of the victims “showed remarkable fortitude and bravery in giving their accounts of what happened to investigators and the court.” The charges against Elsheikh, whose British citizenship was revoked in 2018, carry a possible death penalty, but US prosecutors had previously told British officials they would not seek the death penalty. Prosecutors argued that a life sentence was needed to prevent Elsheikh from causing future harm and to set a precedent that such crimes would be severely punished. “The Beatles were genuine psychopaths,” First Assistant US Attorney Raj Parekh argued in court Friday during the hearing, adding that Elsheikh was the highest-ranking Islamic State member ever convicted in a US court. Another member of the cell, Alexanda Kotey, was sentenced to life in prison by a US judge earlier this year. Kotey was detained in Iraq by the US military before being brought to the United States to stand trial. Last September he pleaded guilty to the murders of Foley, Sotloff, Kassing and Mueller. read more A third member of the group, Mohammed Emouazi, was killed in a US-UK missile strike in Syria in 2015. Some former hostages, released from the cell after protracted negotiations, testified during the trials about the torture they suffered. Testimonies were also given by family members of those killed. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reported by Kanishka Singh? writing by Rami Ayyub Editing by Scott Malone and Alistair Bell Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.