Once again, much greater solicitude for the perpetrators than for the victims.
“US won’t seek death penalty against pair of IS militants,” by Eric Tucker, Associated Press, August 19, 2020:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has notified the British government that it will not pursue the death penalty against two Islamic State militants suspected in the beheadings of Western hostages, removing a hurdle in the potential prosecution of the men in the United States.
The decision could open the door to Britain to begin sharing evidence with federal prosecutors in the U.S for any possible case against El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey. An earlier British court ruling had effectively blocked the sharing of evidence with U.S. authorities because the U.S. had not offered assurances that the death penalty, which was abolished years ago in the United Kingdom, was off the table….
The British men, captured two years ago by a Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed militia, are accused of participation in a brutal Islamic State group known for beheadings and barbaric treatment of American aid workers, journalists and other hostages in Syria….
The men were transferred to U.S. custody last October as Turkey invaded Syria to attack Kurds who have battling the Islamic State alongside American forces. They are being held overseas. Barr said that was not a long-term solution, so he set a deadline for action.
He said the British government had until Oct. 15 to resolve any legal objections it may have and to provide U.S. authorities with the evidence that they seek. Otherwise, the men will be transferred to Iraqi custody for prosecution by Iraqi authorities, Barr wrote. He said the U.S. would not provide to third countries that might impose the death penalty any evidence it has already received, or may received, from the United Kingdom.
The British government confirmed that it had received the letter, with the Home Office saying in a statement that its top priority has always been to protect national security and to deliver justice for families. It said it was working with international partners
The decision is a significant development in years of wrangling over Kotey and Elsheikh. The U.S. and British governments have an agreement to share documents, records and other evidence in criminal investigations. In 2015, the Justice Department asked for evidence that Britain had gathered on the “Beatles,” saying it was doing its own investigation into Americans who were murdered in Syria.
British authorities had been willing to provide the U.S. with evidence even without assurances that the men would not be executed if convicted.
In July 2018, after lawyers for Elsheikh demanded a review of the decision to allow the men to be put on trial in the U.S., Britain’s Home Office temporarily suspended cooperation with U.S authorities.
Then, in March, the British Supreme Court held that it was unlawful for the United Kingdom to provide evidence to a foreign country that could be used in a death penalty prosecution….
Keith O says
No death penalty?
Ok, just keep them in a 6×6 cell 23 hours a day for the rest of their miserable lives.
No special book, no prayer mat, a solid diet of pork, no TV,no visitors, nothing but time to think about their actions.
owensgate says
I was composing the same reply as I was reading the article, only difference I would have said “24” hours isolation – weld the door shut. They can dream about their 72 virgins as they play with themselves.
James Lincoln says
Keith O
ADX Florence, Colorado can meet the requirement…
Keith O says
James,
Thinking about that brings a warm glow to the old heart.
agentorange153 says
Or better yet, put some VX in their morning coffee (like Putin did to Navalny) — problem solved!
william carr says
Speaking as a British citizen I can assure you that a good % of the population does not agree with the UK govt. position and would wish them dead. However as they will be sentenced to USA imprisonment I suppose it is not relevant. Your taxes will pay for their incarceration. Just let us hope some bleeding heart left wing judges in US will not curtail their sentences
The Political Oracle says
Oh, but wait! The Pope and new King of England will set authorities straight! CAIR-UK will set the law straight that the brutal murders were sanctioned by the sharia and the quran. You will love it or be called a racist and bigoted islamophobe, you kaffirs! This is just rhetoric and should not be taken to heart. You should realize that the USG capitulated to UKs demands. The US and UK are slowly drifting apart in democracy.
Gourdhead says
Spot on.
Mike Ham says
You stole my comment. Make the sobs wish they were dead.
CogitoErgoSum says
The death penalty should never be taken off the table for those accused of murder until all the facts have been presented and guilt has been determined. The people on a jury should be the ones who determine whether the death penalty is justified.
mortimer says
It’s an international matter.
CogitoErgoSum says
Yeah, well, as I mentioned before, these guys look suicidal to me.
CogitoErgoSum says
Also, I’ve heard that if you put something alive inside a box (could be a cat or whatever) and you rigged up a way for some poisonous gas to be released inside the box by some random event (like the decay of just a single atom) and then you left, the thing in the box (cat or whatever) would be neither dead nor alive until the next time you looked inside the box. Who would ever need to look inside a box again for these two guys? Hey, they could live forever.
R Russell says
Now the UK has left the EU I would hope we would reinstate capital punishment
gravenimage says
US agrees to UK demands, won’t seek death penalty for two Islamic State jihadis suspected of beheading hostages
………………….
That the UK is making demands like this on behalf of this savage mass murderer is really appalling.
Jayell says
A lot people over here have become genuinely squeamish about the law ‘descending to the level of the criminals’ (as they would put it it) by taking a life, irrespective of the circumstances of the crime. in other words, everyone’s right to life has to be respected even if they’ve shown no respect for other peoples’ right to life. My.only concern is that the law can’t undo a death sentence if it’s later found that a mistake has been made (which has happened often enough), so there has to be absolute cast-iron proof of guilt before you terminate someone’s existence. Is that the case with these two specimens? If so, I would totally agree with Gravenimage.
gravenimage says
Jayell, they themselves have crowed over murdering victims.
Wellington says
Not having the death penalty in Western nations is not only not a sign of wisdom and compassion, it is a sign of moral and intellectual confusion and highly misplaced compassion.
And please note that those against the death penalty are quite silent when someone who should have been executed kills again. I’m not sure if the cowardice or the hypocrisy by those Westerners against the death penalty is paramount. Close call, and reasonable minds can differ (this would exclude all those Westerners against the death penalty, no matter how much they fluff their moral feathers).
And here’s the great and bitter irony in all of this, to wit, the pompous Western moral guardians, confused as they are, defending the worst religion of all time and yet being against the death penalty, are only too ready to make alliance with the very religion which ACTIVELY seeks the death penalty for merely converting to another religion or, Allah forbid, dating a Christian, or not wearing an hijab, etc. Beyond rich.
James Lincoln says
Wellington,
Excellent post, my compliments.
janicevanguilder says
ultimately, I am still not totally clear as to why islam is given such superior consideration over all other religions, cultures, cults, belief systems. They sure don’t earn such respect or privilege, if anything, they work at being pariahs and low-lifes in core contrast to every other social group. Is it fear or money or just their relentless hatred of the rest of the world?
revereridesagain says
EVERY adult is responsible for his or her “beliefs”, no matter what kind of indoctrination they received growing up. Look at Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who was a devout Muslim and Brotherhood member who reasoned her way out of the insane ideology through her own volition to become a heroic fighter for freedom of thought and speech! Rationalizing violation of the rights of others in any way, especially by violence, is inexcusable and such acts should be punished without regard to issues of “faith” of any kind.
Stanley says
So they will be tried under US jurisdiction, good. At least they may get one of those mega long sentences with no parole, whereas in the UK they could be out in a few years.
Thanks US?
gravenimage says
I hope so. Still probably better than what they would have gotten in Britain.
Frank Anderson says
Many countries have legislated against the death penalty and lawful self defense because they want to make individuals helpless. Where lawful self defense has been a part of every civilization from the beginning, it is now denied so that one must submit to murder instead of resisting. The police must enforce the law IF THEY CHOOSE and the politicians will grandstand and shield the criminals that they choose to support. How many Storm Troopers were prosecuted for any crimes in Nazi Germany? The reversal of power continues. Welcome to real life Logan’s Run.
For a criminal conspiracy masquerading as a religion, which prays for death, conquest, looting and tyranny, the death penalty is what they want for themselves as they wish to impose on others. By dying in the service of their “god” they get to their rewards which are to be denied while alive. A long slow miserable death in prison defeats their dream of a quick death and entry to their dream.
The criminals who are actually pirates (enemies of all mankind) do not deserve trials and will never be punished in the countries from which they are extradited. They will in the US without the massive expense and delay of an execution. Many have said that life in SuperMax is worse than death.
James Lincoln says
Frank Anderson says,
“Many have said that life in SuperMax is worse than death.”
Yes, I have heard that about ADX Florence Colorado.
Very likely true – but I would still prefer death row for the “worst of the worst” with a five-year limit on appeals…
Prabhakar Shetty says
UK is making a serious and fatal blunder. The price will be paid by future generations of Christians and others.
gravenimage says
Probably still better than not having Britain extradite them here, though.
Christopher Watson says
Many critics of the death penalty will tell us that it does not deter murderers or those intent on killing.There is also the fact that mistakes have been made. There was the case of Timothy Evans and John Christie as a case in point. But in the last half century there have been cases where the death penalty should be reconsidered; there are cases of foreign nationals setting bombs among crowds, any death for political purposes, the killing of daughters because they refused to live as their father’s wished, the blatant killing of police officers or prison guards or any killing for religious purposes. Killers in the UK seem to have a relatively east time; we even refuse to extradite them if they will face the death penalty in the USA. There was the case of the 3 killers of PC Andrew Harper who laughed as they left court. Would they be laughing if they faced a noose next month? One of the worst cases of evading retribution was the infamous case of PC Yvonne Fletcher, killed while on duty in London outside the Libyan Embassy. We know who the killer is yet our government allows him to go free for diplomatic reasons. You don’t get respect by being fair; you get it by by being efficient.
Religious fanatics will say they become martyrs and our governments concede. But so what? Keeping animals in prison for years is expensive; lets save money. Rope is very cheap.
Simo Hayha says
At the conclusion of the movie “CITIZEN X,” the serial killer of MORE THAN 50 young girls and boys was escorted into a lower level of a prison in Russia, turned facing the wall, and summarily executed with a single cartridge to his head. POOF! Done. This movie was based on an actual serial killer in Russia. I would quickly offer a whole box of 50 high-velocity, hollow point, 9 millimeter cartridges to reduce expenses to the authorities.
John Allan says
Makes me ashamed to be British!
John Allan says
Long past time that we again elected politicians who have a pair!
Idol and Icon says
The death penalty is THE ONLY SOLUTION. Mealy minded arguments against are complicit in such crimes period. Most people are for the death penalty and politicians ought to represent them.
Spur says
Has the U.S. ever executed an Islamic terrorist for a killing in America?
gravenimage says
Well, there was John Allen Muhammad, the Washington Beltway Jihadist.
Zé Manel Tonto says
The ridiculous UK Government bow down to the filthy communists from the labour party and the British media.
Then the US Government bows down to the request of the UK Government.
When the left does not win elections they rule with the media and courts.
Weren’t these two arrested in Iraq or Syria? Let them be trialled there, I am sure the death penalty will be on the table.
Lee Cox says
Why did the British welcome Muslims into their fold in the first place? The so-called “religion” of Islam has become nothing other than an organization of hate toward those who don’t accept Mohammed, and Christians are especially targeted for being “non-believers.” The perverted Islamic camel was allowed to poke its nose under the British tent, and the entire animal appears to have now taken over the tent. The U.S., under Obama has also started the ball rolling, under the quest for more liberal voters. What a way to ruin a country!!!
Ian Harris says
For the naive Islamists who believe death means instant and death-long access to 72 virgins, the prospect of sixty or seventy years in a US jail must seem a greater punishment. Incidentally, what is it with Muslims and virgins, and hiding their women from men’s eyes? A total lack of confidence in their own manhood? And why virgins anyway? A little experience is preferable.
Don Ameche says
What about the rights of the families of US victims …. Barr ???
His entire tenure seems to be characterized by NOT prosecuting anyone on the Left or islamic murderers.
Sorry…. just have to call it as I see it.
staffsgt7 says
then they need to be kicked into gitmo and NOT allowed to our USA prisons so they can convert people to shitslam and be civlizational and/or violent jihadists!
gravenimage says
And now Britain is withholding evidence to further protect these Jihadists:
“UK Home Office still won’t hand over evidence on ISIS jihadis to US, would violate their ‘data protection rights’”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/08/uk-home-office-still-wont-hand-over-evidence-on-isis-jihadis-to-us-would-violate-their-data-protection-rights