High Court challenge for ‘IS Beatles’

A legal challenge over the UK government’s refusal to make sure two Islamic State terrorist suspects will not face the death penalty in the US is due to reach the High Court.

Alexandra Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh are said to have been members of a four-man cell of IS executioners in Syria and Iraq, who were collectively nicknamed “The Beatles” because of their British accents. They were respon- sible for killing a number of high-profile Western captives.

The pair were captured in January, sparking a row over whether they should be returned to the UK for trial or face justice in another jurisdiction.

The mother of Elsheikh is bringing a case at the High Court, challenging Home Secretary Sajid Javid’s decision to share intelligence with US authorities under a mutual legal assistance agreement, without seeking assurances the men would not face exe- cution if they were extradited and tried there.

Lawyers acting on her behalf said the judicial review hearing is due to take place on Monday and Tuesday next week.

Mr Javid faced intense criticism over his decision, with MPS accusing him of breaching the UK’S long-standing opposition to the death penalty.

The government’s former reviewer of anti-terrorism legislation, Lord Carlile, branded the move “extraordinary”.