Upsetting the liberals: the fury of politicians such as Labour MP Diane Abbott's concern over Isis Terrorists Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh is utterly sickening, and out of touch with the British people, they will get a fair trial in the US, and we should remember the victim’s families, they have a right and expectation of justice

Dear All

Tuesday saw me do a post on Isis Terrorists, Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, it is my opinion, that the correct place for them to stand trial is America. The fact that the Home Secretary has asked for assurances that they will not get the death penalty has sent many people into a spin.

https://glasgowunihumanrights.blogspot.com/2018/07/facing-justice-islamic-state.html

On one side, we have fools like Labour MP Diane Abbott the Shadow Home Secretary, hyperventilated that the Government's position was 'abhorrent and shameful' and on the other, people saying they are fine with their extradition. If Kotey and Elsheikh had committed their crimes on British soil, I would argue that they should stand trial here.

But they did, they committed their crimes in Syria.

As I blogged, we ended the death penalty in the UK, many years ago, it was the right thing to do, killing by the State has no place in our society. In many other countries, in the West and in the East, the death penalty is still enforced.

Recently Japan executed the last of the terrorists who used Sarin gas on the subway.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44962581

Whether you agree with the death penalty or not, we are not the World’s policemen or their moral guardians, we can advise, comment and make known our feelings, but at the end of the day, their rule of law takes priority over our concerns. I don’t agree with the death penalty, never did, never will, I don’t see it as part of British values. From time to time, we get a situation which on the surfaces seems plausible that the death penalty argument could be used. Generally this is cases were the public have no problem in someone being hanged, such as the Moors Murderers or the Soham killer, or the IRA bombers of the past. If you take the case of the Birmingham Six, innocent people were arrested, tried and put in jail,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12664938

If hanging was still vogue at that time, these people would have been hanged; this is why I am against the death penalty. Injustice isn’t a part of justice, and ‘sorry’ really doesn’t cut it for me. Stephen Glover of the Daily Mail; asks a question, but must we rule out executing terrorists?

That is a complicated question but the answer is simple.

Yes, we must rule out executing terrorists.

In case anyone thinks I am a pacifist, the answer is no, I had no problem when ‘Jihadi John’ was killed in a drone strike, this guy deserved to die a painful death for what he had done.

Stephen Glover aks;

“Where should two former alleged terrorists who were once British citizens be put on trial for the most brutal and barbarous acts against innocent civilians, some of them British?”

I would strongly disagree with him saying:

“The right answer is surely the United Kingdom. Two young men brought up in this country, who are accused of unspeakable terrorist offences, should face justice in a British court”.

This brings me back to where they committed their crimes and to whom; these two points; don’t make the case for a British trial, I would say that the choice is either Syria which is doubtful due to Syrian and US relations and the US of A. I would therefore believe that the US is correct venue for Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh.

Our system of justice and sentencing in the UK could do with an upgrade, we have a system which due to the Human Rights Act abuse wouldn’t it is said give a strong enough sentence on conviction. The alleged crimes of Elsheikh, 30, who was born in Sudan but raised in London, is accused of supervising the torture and killing of Western hostages by ISIS. Kotey, 34, London born-and-bred, is charged with being part of the same ISIS cell which beheaded 27 hostages and, according to reliable testimonies, displayed horrendous cruelty and unbelievable sadism.

These two don’t deserve to escape the full measure of the American legal system.

Shipping them off to America; besides being the right thing to do, does solve a few problems, like under existing legislation our courts are unable to apply the very lengthy sentences that can be handed down by American judges. If you watch American prison documentaries, you would be surprised at the sentences some people get, hundreds of years. And as I mentioned above; abuse by their lawyers, using the Human Rights Act in various ways to attempt to circumvent justice.

The Labour Party is up in arms, principally because it is so opposed to the death penalty as I said, I oppose the death penalty as well, were we part waves is that I recognise that other countries have the right to run their own judicial system as they see fit.

Labour MP Hilary Benn opined that 'we have to show we are better than Islamic State in our morals, and should therefore have nothing to do with capital punishment'. Islamic State don’t care about our morals, they see this as our weakest, which is why this and the lack of morals by politicians have placed us in the state we find ourselves.

When Stephen Glover says:

“In my humble opinion, the prospect that these two alleged killers might be sentenced to death if found guilty of horrendous crimes by an American court is by far the least troubling aspect of this affair”.

I think he speaks for many people in the UK, right across racial and religious divides, but speaking up for justice can provoke hatred towards you which is why many people remain silent.

Finally, Stephen Glover said:

“If Kotey and Elsheikh were to be tried in this country, we might understand how it was that two young men who enjoyed the benefits of living in a free society should seemingly have done their utmost to destroy it. And such a trial, if it had led to a conviction, would have given the British people the satisfaction of seeing justice meted out to two British traitors who appear to hate, and wanted to damage, their country”.

I don’t think any excuse will bring forward the advancement of human knowledge in this case; these two were ‘recreational killers’, who enjoyed torture and murder of innocent people. American families have the right to see these two before a US Court, let them have their day in Court to explain their actions.

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University