By Ben Kerrigan-
The decision is a major departure from the well-established policy of opposing the death penalty abroad . Jeff Sessions, that he would not demand a “death penalty assurance” in this particular case.
In a letter leaked to the Telegraph, Sajid Javid told the U.S attorney general that the UK will seek no assurances that Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh will not be executed.
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.
“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. The statement can be interpreted to mean Javid supports the execution of the terrorist pair, but it can also mean he simply doesn’t care because of the atrocities they have committed. 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.”
SECRET
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.