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ISIS ‘Beatle’ Convicted in Hostage-Taking Scheme
A federal jury in Virginia convicted El Shafee Elsheikh, a 33-year-old former British citizen and high-ranking ISIS fighter, of participating in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, as well as the deaths of British and Japanese nationals in Syria.
According to evidence presented during trial, Elsheikh personally participated in the detention of and hostage negotiations for four American citizens – James Wright Foley, Kayla Jean Mueller, Steven Joel Sotloff, and Peter Edward Kassig – each of whom died as hostages in ISIS custody. In addition, Elsheikh personally participated in the detention of and hostage negotiations for British, French, Italian, Danish, German, Spanish, Swedish, Belgian, Swiss, and New Zealand nationals.
El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, served as a high-ranking ISIS fighter and was an integral member of a wide-ranging conspiracy involving the captivity of 26 hostages in Syria. Elsheikh and his co-conspirators engaged in a prolonged pattern of physical and psychological violence against hostages that was meant to subdue the hostages and compel the victims’ family members and their governments to pay large monetary ransoms for their release.
The evidence presented during trial showed that Elsheikh and his co-conspirators participated in forcibly exposing the hostages to the murder of other hostages held by ISIS, including a Russian hostage who was killed in or about February 2014 and a Syrian prisoner who was executed in or about April 2014. After a group of European hostages were forced to witness the execution of the Syrian prisoner, Elsheikh and his co-conspirators returned the hostages to the prison where they were being held with American and British hostages.
El Shafee Elsheikh and his convicted co-conspirator, Alexanda Amon Kotey, 38, were captured together in January 2018 by the Syrian Democratic Forces as they attempted to escape Syria for Turkey. Mohammed Emwazi, who conducted the above-referenced videotaped beheadings, was killed in November 2015 in a U.S. military airstrike in Syria.
The charges against El Shafee Elsheikh include one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, four counts of hostage taking resulting in the deaths of the four Americans, one count of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens outside of the United States, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists resulting in the deaths of U.S., British, and Japanese citizens.
El Shafee Elsheikh’s conviction is a significant blow to ISIS and its leadership, and it serves as a reminder of the consequences of participating in terrorist activities. The case is a testament to the bravery and resilience of the hostages and their families, as well as the dedication and perseverance of the investigators and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring Elsheikh to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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