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Islamic State 'Beatles' duo: UK 'will not block death penalty' Islamic State 'Beatles' duo: UK 'will not block death penalty'
(35 minutes later)
The UK will not block the death penalty in the case of two men accused of being Islamic State members, a leaked letter from the home secretary has said. The UK will not block the death penalty in the case of two men accused of being Islamic State members, the home secretary has said.
In the letter to the US attorney general, obtained by the Daily Telegraph, Sajid Javid said the UK would not ask for "assurances" over Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh. In a letter leaked to the Telegraph, Sajid Javid tells the US attorney general that the UK will seek no assurances that Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh will not be executed.
The duo, from west London, were captured in Syria in January.The duo, from west London, were captured in Syria in January.
The BBC's Frank Gardner said he had confirmation of the UK's stance.The BBC's Frank Gardner said he had confirmation of the UK's stance.
Our security correspondent added that the UK still had a "long-standing opposition" to the controversial US military prison Guantanamo Bay and still wants it closed.Our security correspondent added that the UK still had a "long-standing opposition" to the controversial US military prison Guantanamo Bay and still wants it closed.
He said if the pair - who are accused of being the last two members of an IS foursome dubbed "The Beatles" - are sent to Guantanamo Bay, the UK will not share intelligence for the trial. But if they go to a civil trial, the UK will.He said if the pair - who are accused of being the last two members of an IS foursome dubbed "The Beatles" - are sent to Guantanamo Bay, the UK will not share intelligence for the trial. But if they go to a civil trial, the UK will.
Earlier this year, in an interview with Associated Press from northern Syria, the duo complained that they would not get a fair trial because the UK government had stripped them of their British citizenship.Earlier this year, in an interview with Associated Press from northern Syria, the duo complained that they would not get a fair trial because the UK government had stripped them of their British citizenship.
In the letter dated 22 June 2018 and addressed to Jeff Sessions, Mr Javid wrote: "I am of the view that there are strong reasons for not requiring a death penalty assurance in this specific case, so no such assurances will be sought." In the letter dated 22 June 2018 and addressed to Jeff Sessions, Mr Javid wrote that the UK would not seek "assurances" over the death penalty in this particular case, but said it did not mark a change in UK policy.
But he said that the UK's decision in this case did not reflect a change in policy on assistance in US death penalty cases generally or in the government's stance on the global abolition of the death penalty. "I am of the view that there are strong reasons for not requiring a death penalty assurance in this specific case, so no such assurances will be sought," he said.
But the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, described the letter as "extraordinary".
"We do not extradite people to countries where there is a death penalty unless there is an assurance the death penalty will not be carried out," he told the BBC.
"This a unilateral change of policy without any consultation and I would be amazed if this had been approved explicitly by the prime minister."
Shami Chakrabarti, Labour's shadow attorney general, said Mr Javid had "secretly and unilaterally abandoned Britain's opposition to the death penalty" and appeared to be encouraging "this grave human rights abuse".
Diane Foley - whose son James, an American journalist, was beheaded by the IS cell in Syria in 2014 - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that she was "very against" the death penalty for the pair.
"I think that will just make them martyrs in their twisted ideology," she said.
"I would like them held accountable sending them to prison for the rest of their lives - that would be my preference for sure."
Kotey and Elsheikh were members of the IS cell with two others from west London - Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed "Jihadi John", and Aine Davis.Kotey and Elsheikh were members of the IS cell with two others from west London - Mohammed Emwazi, nicknamed "Jihadi John", and Aine Davis.
The group were radicalised in the UK before travelling to Syria, where they became infamous for their high-profile executions of Western hostages. The group were radicalised in the UK before travelling to Syria, where they became infamous for their executions of Western hostages.
Emwazi, who was the alleged ringleader and appeared in videos showing hostages being beheaded, was killed by a drone strike in 2015.Emwazi, who was the alleged ringleader and appeared in videos showing hostages being beheaded, was killed by a drone strike in 2015.
Davis was convicted of being a senior IS member and was jailed in Turkey last year.Davis was convicted of being a senior IS member and was jailed in Turkey last year.
Kotey and Elsheikh were captured by members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January.Kotey and Elsheikh were captured by members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in January.