ISIS Beatles face life in America’s SuperMax
UK court appeal for jihadis thrown out
TWO Brits alleged to be part of the Islamic State “Beatles” execution squad could face life in the US’s dreaded Supermax jail after a legal bid to block their extradition failed.
Londoners El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, and Alexanda Kotey, 36, can now be sent from their cell in Iraq to face charges of murder, torture and kidnapping.
And if convicted they could rot in the ADX Supermax in Colorado – spending 23 hours a day in soundproof solitary confinement.
Elsheikh and Kotey are accused of being part of a notorious cell in Syria led by Mohamed Emwazi – AKA Jihadi John, who was killed in a drone blitz in 2015.
They were captured in 2018 and Kotey told the Mirror last year they most feared being sent to the US. They were warned
US officials might hand them to Baghdad for execution – a threat made to hurry up Britain’s hand-over of key evidence.
Yesterday, Elsheikh’s mother, Maha Elgizouli, lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office sharing the evidence. Her lawyers argued it breached the Data Protection Act and was “not strictly necessary” as the Director of Public Prosecutions was due to decide if there should be a UK prosecution.
But Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Garnham said where a prosecution should take place was of “no relevance” to issues the court must decide. They added it was still “necessary and proportionate” for the Home Secretary to release the information.
It is believed this was the last legal option to stop a possible extradition.