THE British El Safi el Sheikha member of a group of the Islamic State (ISIS) jihadist organization that beheaded American prisoners in Iraq and Syria, was found guilty today by a US court of his role in the kidnappings and executions.
The 33-year-old was a member of the so-called “Beatles”a nickname used by jihadist hostages for members of the group because of their distinctive British accent.
Accused of being a member of the group, El Safi el-Sheikh was tried in Alexandria, near Washington, for his role in the abduction and death of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Keila Miller and Kasig.
After being found guilty, he faces a life sentence.
The 33-year-old Briton chose to remain silent throughout the hearing, which lasted about two weeks. Through his lawyer, he admitted that he had joined the ranks of ISIS, while denying that he was one of the “Beatles”.
According to the indictment, El Safi el Sheikh was the “Ringo”, while some hostages believed he was “George”. He was never really recognized by ex-prisoners as one of the members of that group, as they had never seen them without a hood.
However, in 2018 he had admitted to journalists that he had treated without “compassion” prisoners who were under the supervision of himself and his two “friends”, whom he had met in London, Mohamed Emuazi and Alexandra Coty.
El Safi el Sheikh was arrested along with the latter in 2018 by Kurdish forces in Syria. They were taken to the United States for trial, but Coty chose to plead guilty and the sentence will be announced on April 29.
A third member of the group, Mohamed Emouazi, was killed in a drone strike in 2015. He was nicknamed “Jihadi John” after being identified with a butcher knife in a propaganda video of Islamic State beheading Western hostages.
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