Wrangle over where to send two Brit ‘Beatles’ ISIS fighters to face trial escalates into UK-US row
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is resisting suggestions by America for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh to return to their native London to face justice
THE DECISION over where two British ISIS fighters dubbed the “Beatles” should be put on trial is escalating into a potentially damaging diplomatic row with America.
The US wants to see them sent back to London - but the UK’s Defence Secretary wants to keep Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh in Syria to face justice.
Gavin Williamson is so far resisting suggestions from his US counterpart Jim Mattis – but he will have to face down the former general at a meeting of ministers in Rome, who is expected to raise the issue of how to deal with the captured militants.
Kotey, 34, and Elsheikh, 29, were captured in Syria while trying to flee to Turkey in January by Kurdish militia fighters, and are under guard in the caliphate's former heartland.
Mr Williamson has said he does not think the pair – part of the group of fighters dubbed the “Beatles” due to the English accents on hostage videos - "should ever set foot in this country again".
Junior defence minister Tobias Ellwood has suggested the men should be tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
But the US does not recognise the jurisdiction of the Hague, and is sceptical the judicial system in war-torn Syria would be adequate to try them.
Kathryn Wheelbarger, the US principal deputy assistant defence secretary, Syrian democratic forces are capturing up to 40 fighters a day and their facilities are "eventually going to be full".
She added: “We’re working with the coalition on foreign fighter detainees, and generally expect these to return to their country of origin for disposition.
“Defence ministers have the obligation to really explain to their other ministers or their other cabinet officials just the importance to the mission, to make sure that there’s an answer to this problem.”
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That appeared to be a direct rebuke to Mr Williamson, who does not want the embarrassment of having to bring the men home.
Asked about the row during a trip to Silicon Valley, the Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "The important thing is that these two people face justice.
"I can't comment on individual cases, but we will always make sure that we keep everyone safe."