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ISIS Terrorist Who Beheaded Americans Sentenced
Posted On 19 Aug 2022
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A British-born member of the Islamic State terrorist group who is known as one of the ISIS “Beatles” has been sentenced to life in prison for killing four American hostages.
El Shafee Elsheikh was sentenced to eight life sentences, four for counts on deadly hostage-taking charges related to helping terrorist organizations, by a federal judge in a court in Alexandria, Virginia. There is no possibility for parole for Elsheikh’s charges. Elsheikh plans to appeal the case.
Known as one of the ISIS “Beatles” in reference to the famous British band, Elsheikh was sentenced after being found guilty in April for taking hostage and eventually killing journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and U.S. humanitarian aid workers Peter Kassig and Kayla Mueller.
Sotloff, Kassig, and Foley were beheaded on camera in a series of ISIS propaganda videos in 2014. Mueller was not killed on camera.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber prosecuted the case and spoke on the case in a video statement Friday.
ISIS 'Beatle' Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Hostage-Taking Scheme that Resulted in the Deaths of American, British, and Japanese Citizens https://t.co/z7bustOYFA
Video Statement from U.S Attorney Jessica D. Aber: pic.twitter.com/yK0rXIw0nA
— U.S. Attorney EDVA (@EDVAnews) August 19, 2022
“I want to express my gratitude for the tireless work of the trial team, including all our partners, in bringing about today’s sentence. Their efforts over many years of investigating and prosecuting the ISIS Beatles are emblematic of the best of the Department of Justice, and truly our country, has to offer in pursuing justice in the face of terrorism. I am also deeply appreciative of the efforts of the victims’ families in this case,” Aber said. “Without their commitment, this case never would have made it to our courthouse. We would not have the result we have today.”
Families of the victims, including Diane Foley, mother of one of the victims, celebrated the sentencing and praised the prosecutors as “the very best of our U.S. justice system.”
“In order to deter violent crimes like international kidnapping and torture of American citizens, we must have accountability. We must have justice. And with today’s verdict, we finally have a bit of justice. Let this sentencing make clear to all who dare to kidnap, torture, or kill any American citizen abroad, that U.S. justice will find you wherever you are,” Foley said after the sentencing.
Elsheikh was not given the death penalty as part of a deal with the United Kingdom to allow the extradition of Elsheikh and another British-born member of the terrorist group, Alexanda Kotey, for prosecution by the Justice Department.
