Two British Islamic State militants accused in the torture and killing of Western hostages were brought to the U.S. to face criminal charges in Virginia, U.S. authorities said Wednesday, after more than two years of legal limbo that followed their capture in Syria. The hostages had referred to the guards as the “Beatles” based on their British backgrounds. The families of the four Americans said they welcomed the decision to forgo the death penalty and prosecute the men. A British court had earlier blocked authorities from sharing key evidence in the case against Islamic State fighters because the Trump administration hadn’t provided assurances about not pursuing the death penalty. Britain abolished capital punishment for all crimes in 1998 and typically seeks assurances the death penalty won’t be used when assisting foreign governments with prosecutions.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 07, 2020 15:02 UTC