Sajid Javid “gave up” on attempts to ensure the US did not execute two British Isis militants because he feared sparking outrage in Donald Trump’s administration
UK Prime Minister Theresa May — who was formerly Home Secretary — had sought to defend the two accused Islamic State jihadists against the death penalty even in the face of their guilt, stating that she would not hand over material evidence “without assurances against the death penalty.”
The two “ISIS militants” are the alleged executioners El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey. Back in July, Jihad Watch addressed the issue of “left-wing politicians, media commentators, and senior Tories” who were upset that Home Secretary Sajid Javid was not making efforts to rescue the two from possible death sentences in the U.S. Now the reason for Javid’s inaction is revealed, and it has nothing to do with justice or the protection of citizens of Western countries, but is instead the fear of Trump.
“Due to the indescribable barbarity of the abuses committed by Islamic State jihadis,” Iraqi judge Abdul Sattar Beragdar said that he was “sentencing jihadis from the UK to death by hanging — in order to protect Britain,” a stark difference from UK politicians who are reckless with public safety.
Beragdar added that although the punishment seemed strong, that it “will affect the security of your country….I am sure there are hundreds of people in Britain at this moment thinking of committing similar crimes.”
A senior cabinet minister and secretary of state for defense, Gavin Williamson, also recognized the grave threat to UK citizens that members of the Islamic State pose. He stated months ago that those who have “fought for Islamic State abroad should be hunted down and killed to ensure they never return to the UK,” and that they “should ever be allowed back into this country…We should do everything we can do to destroy and eliminate that threat.”
“Fear of infuriating Trump made UK drop opposition to death penalty for British Isis suspects, court told”, by Lizzie Dearden, Independent, October 8, 2018:
Sajid Javid “gave up” on attempts to ensure the US did not execute two British Isis militants because he feared sparking outrage in Donald Trump’s administration, a court has heard.
El Shafee Elsheikh and Alexanda Kotey, who were allegedly members of a cell dubbed “The Beatles” and who killed a series of hostages in Syria, have been the subject of a legal dispute between the US and UK since being captured in January.
Earlier this year a leaked letter showed that Mr Javid had agreed to hand evidence on the pair to American authorities for a federal prosecution, but without assurances that the death penalty would not be used.
Elsheikh’s mother, Maha Elgizouli, is attempting to launch a judicial review over the decision and claims it is unlawful.
Her lawyers told the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, and Mr Justice Garnham that the “unprecedented and unjustified” move was taken against advice from government departments and violated precedent.
Edward Fitzgerald QC said it was influenced by the “anticipated outrage” of members of the Trump administration if the UK demanded assurances that the pair would not face the death penalty.
“[Mr Javid] wrongly exposed the suspects to the very real risk of an inhuman punishment,” he told the Administrative Court in London.
“This country should not facilitate the imposition in another country of a punishment which we ourselves recognise as inhuman and unlawful.
“He took those steps in large part because of the anticipated outrage of certain political appointees in the Trump administration if the UK insisted on death penalty assurances.
“We submit that the anticipated outrage of those US officials was not a proper consideration as a matter of law.”
Lawyers for Mr Javid argued that there is no common law prohibition on providing legal assistance to another country where it may result in proceedings leading to the death penalty…..