El Shafee Elsheikh: Opening statements in IS Beatle jihadist trial

Source: BBC

El Shafee Elsheikh: Opening statements in IS Beatle jihadist trial

30 March 2022

An ex-British jihadist on federal trial in the US has said he was fighting on behalf of "suffering Muslims".

El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, stands accused of hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit murder as part of a group of Islamic State militants, known as the Beatles for their British accents.

But in court on Wednesday, Mr Elsheikh claimed he was not part of the group.

The group is said to have tortured and beheaded hostages in Syria, including several journalists and aid workers.

Prosecutors alleged Wednesday that Mr Elsheikh was in fact close friends with the other members and took part in their "unrelenting and unpredictable abuse". Their evidence will show he was involved in ransom demands from the families of hostages.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60930690


El Shafee Elsheikh (Reuters)