This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/31/world/middleeast/britain-isis-beatles-syria.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Britons Accused of Being Islamic State ‘Beatles’ Call Beheadings ‘Regrettable’ Britons Accused of Being Islamic State ‘Beatles’ Call Beheadings ‘Regrettable’
(about 1 hour later)
KOBANI, Syria — Two British detainees in Syria who are accused of being part of a murderous Islamic State cell denounced the United States and Britain as “hypocrites” and complained they would not get fair trials because they were reportedly stripped of their citizenship.KOBANI, Syria — Two British detainees in Syria who are accused of being part of a murderous Islamic State cell denounced the United States and Britain as “hypocrites” and complained they would not get fair trials because they were reportedly stripped of their citizenship.
The men, El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, were part of a group with two other British jihadis that was nicknamed “the Beatles” by captives because of their English accents, officials say.The men, El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, were part of a group with two other British jihadis that was nicknamed “the Beatles” by captives because of their English accents, officials say.
The two were captured by Syrian Kurdish fighters in January in eastern Syria as Islamic State forces were routed and are being held in an undisclosed location, but they were taken to a Kurdish security center in the town of Kobani, where they spoke to The Associated Press.The two were captured by Syrian Kurdish fighters in January in eastern Syria as Islamic State forces were routed and are being held in an undisclosed location, but they were taken to a Kurdish security center in the town of Kobani, where they spoke to The Associated Press.
They refused to address accusations that in 2014 and 2015 they were part of the cell that officials said held more than 20 Western hostages in Syria and tortured many of them, including the American journalist James Foley.They refused to address accusations that in 2014 and 2015 they were part of the cell that officials said held more than 20 Western hostages in Syria and tortured many of them, including the American journalist James Foley.
They are accused of beheading seven American, British and Japanese journalists and aid workers and a group of Syrian soldiers, and boasting of the butchery in videos released around the globe. The two said the killings of the captives were a mistake — but for tactical reasons.They are accused of beheading seven American, British and Japanese journalists and aid workers and a group of Syrian soldiers, and boasting of the butchery in videos released around the globe. The two said the killings of the captives were a mistake — but for tactical reasons.
Many in the Islamic State, known as ISIS, “would have disagreed” with the killings “on the grounds that there is probably more benefit in them being political prisoners,” Mr. Kotey said.Many in the Islamic State, known as ISIS, “would have disagreed” with the killings “on the grounds that there is probably more benefit in them being political prisoners,” Mr. Kotey said.
“It was something that was regrettable,” he said. He also blamed Western governments for failing to negotiate, noting that some hostages were released for ransoms.“It was something that was regrettable,” he said. He also blamed Western governments for failing to negotiate, noting that some hostages were released for ransoms.
Mr. Elsheikh said the killings were a “mistake” and might not have been justified. But, he said, they were in retaliation for killings of civilians by the United States-led coalition fighting ISIS. Mr. Elsheikh said the killings were a “mistake” and might not have been justified. But, he said, they were in retaliation for the killings of civilians by the United States-led coalition fighting ISIS.
The beheadings, often carried out on camera, horrified the world soon after ISIS took over much of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The group also committed wide-scale atrocities, massacring thousands of Iraqi troops and civilians and taking sex slaves. The beheadings, often videotaped, horrified the world soon after ISIS took over much of Iraq and Syria in 2014. The group also committed wide-scale atrocities, massacring thousands of Iraqi troops and civilians and taking sex slaves.
The first victim was Mr. Foley, followed by two other Americans, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig; the British aid workers David Cawthorne Haines and Alan Henning; and the Japanese journalists Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto. Mr. Foley’s killing was followed by those of two other Americans, Steven Sotloff and Peter Kassig; the British aid workers David Cawthorne Haines and Alan Henning; and the Japanese journalists Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto.
Mr. Foley’s mother, Diane Foley, called on the international community and United States government “to have the courage to hold these men accountable in an open trial where we can face them and they can hear all the pain and suffering they’ve inflicted on the world.”Mr. Foley’s mother, Diane Foley, called on the international community and United States government “to have the courage to hold these men accountable in an open trial where we can face them and they can hear all the pain and suffering they’ve inflicted on the world.”
Ms. Foley added that she opposed the death penalty for the detainees since it would feed jihadi “desire for martyrdom.” She said she opposed the death penalty for the detainees since it would feed jihadi “desire for martyrdom and heroic afterlife.”
The two suspects’ detention has set off a debate in the United States and Europe about how to prosecute Westerners who joined the militants — as the Kurds pressure the West to take them back to relieve prison crowding.The two suspects’ detention has set off a debate in the United States and Europe about how to prosecute Westerners who joined the militants — as the Kurds pressure the West to take them back to relieve prison crowding.
Mr. Elsheikh, whose family went to Britain from Sudan when he was a child, was a mechanic from White City in West London. He traveled to Syria in 2012, initially joining a branch of Al Qaeda before moving on to ISIS, according to the United States State Department. It said he had “earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions and crucifixions” while serving as an ISIS jailer. Mr. Elsheikh, whose family went to Britain from Sudan when he was a child, was a mechanic from White City in West London. He traveled to Syria in 2012, initially joining a branch of Al Qaeda before moving on to ISIS, according to the State Department. It said he had “earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions and crucifixions” while serving as an ISIS jailer.
Mr. Kotey, who is of Ghanaian and Greek-Cypriot descent and converted to Islam in his 20s, is from the Paddington district of London.Mr. Kotey, who is of Ghanaian and Greek-Cypriot descent and converted to Islam in his 20s, is from the Paddington district of London.
The leader of the cell, Mohammed Emwazi, was called “Jihadi John” after he appeared, masked in the videos, sometimes performing the butchery. He was killed in an American-led coalition drone strike in 2015 in the Syrian city of Raqqa. Another member, Aine Davis, was arrested in Turkey, convicted there in 2017 and sentenced to seven years in prison.The leader of the cell, Mohammed Emwazi, was called “Jihadi John” after he appeared, masked in the videos, sometimes performing the butchery. He was killed in an American-led coalition drone strike in 2015 in the Syrian city of Raqqa. Another member, Aine Davis, was arrested in Turkey, convicted there in 2017 and sentenced to seven years in prison.
The two detainees in Syria denounced as “illegal” the British government’s reported decision in February to strip them of citizenship. The revocation exposes them to “rendition and torture,” Mr. Elsheikh said.The two detainees in Syria denounced as “illegal” the British government’s reported decision in February to strip them of citizenship. The revocation exposes them to “rendition and torture,” Mr. Elsheikh said.
“I was born in the U.K.,” he said. “My mother was born in the U.K. I have a daughter there in the U.K.”“I was born in the U.K.,” he said. “My mother was born in the U.K. I have a daughter there in the U.K.”
Mr. Kotey said the fairest venue for a trial might be the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The citizenship decision was widely reported in the news media, though British officials have not confirmed or denied it, citing privacy rules.Mr. Kotey said the fairest venue for a trial might be the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The citizenship decision was widely reported in the news media, though British officials have not confirmed or denied it, citing privacy rules.
The United States has been pressing for the home countries of foreign jihadis in Iraq and Syria to take their nationals for trial. Britain’s defense secretary has said they should not be allowed back into the country. Both men seemed dismissive of the idea that they were part of the ISIS cell, depicting the allegations as created by media and foreign intelligence “so the world can say this is the bad guy and kill the bad guy,” Mr. Elsheikh said.
He added: “No fair trial when I am ‘the Beatle’ in the media. No fair trial.”
Bethany Haines, whose father, David Haines, was held hostage and died in Syria, told the BBC: “It shocks me that two individuals who have committed such heinous crimes have been treated like guests with access to the media and are allowed access to smartphones. As for them saying that their actions in Syria are regrettable is an understatement.”
The men said they had been questioned repeatedly by American military officials and the F.B.I. The United States has been pressing for the home countries of foreign jihadis in Iraq and Syria to take their nationals for trial. Though Britain’s defense secretary has said they should not be allowed back into the country, officials had asked the United States for reassurance that the men would not face the death penalty.
At the Kurdish security building, the men appeared to speak openly. Mr. Elsheikh was strait-laced and reserved, referring more often to Islamic texts. But Mr. Kotey often cracked jokes — when asked whether ISIS’ leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was alive, he joked that some people thought that Elvis never died and that Tupac Shakur is still alive.
They were unrepentant, however, about belonging to the group — though they said they did not agree with everything it did. Mr. Kotey said he did not think suicide bombings were permissible in Islam. Mr. Elsheikh said ISIS’ killing of a captured Jordanian pilot by burning him alive in a cage was “atrocious.”