El Shafee Elsheikh (33) a British ex-national, is still on trial.
As the mother of an American aid worker who was killed in action became emotionally charged, she told the court how her husband and she pleaded for mercy via a video message sent to ISIS’s head.
In her testimony during the trial of former British national El Shafee Elsheikh, 33 – an accused ISIS terrorist – Marsha Mueller recounted how she and her husband tried for years to save their daughter, Kayla, who had been kidnapped by the terrorist group while she was on a trip with her boyfriend to the Syrian city of Aleppo in August 2013.
Kayla later married Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, an ISIS leader who then raped and murdered her. At 26 years old, she was murdered.
Mueller said that the jihadis demanded $5 million (or $5.4 million) for Kayla’s freedom. But, Mueller stated on Tuesday that Kayla and her husband tried to convince the terrorist leaders for Kayla for many years.
She claimed that she had sent her husband a video message, and Mrs. Mueller said she was pleading with al-Baghdadi: “I’m coming to you with the mother’s love for my daughter.”
“Kayla’s not your enemy,” she stated in the video. It was presented to an Alexandria jury where Elsheikh, who is charged with torturing and murdering four Americans in Syria, showed it. “I beg her mother to show mercy on us and free our daughter.
Elsheikh (33), is charged with involvement in Kayla’s murders as well as Peter Kassig, an aid worker, and Steven Sotloff, American journalist.
According to prosecutors, at most 27 of his abductions were linked to him, though he denies the conspiracy to murder and abduction charges.
Marsha Mueller and Carl Mueller (center), parents of Kayla Mueller killed by Islamic State militants. They depart to take a rest at the Albert V. Bryan U.S. On Tuesday, the Courthouse
Marsha Mueller had, from left, described how Carl and she pleaded to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in court for Marsha’s safe release
Kayla Mueller was taken hostage by ISIS terrorists on a trip she took to Syria in 2013 with her boyfriend. After being kidnapped by ISIS terrorists, Kayla Mueller was forced to marry Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Marsha was asked Tuesday by the Alexandria District Court to confirm emails between Kayla and her family.
According to Independent reports, Kayla’s kidnappers received the first email from Kayla on May 23, 2013, and stated, “We don’t want to harm her.” It is almost like she’s a guest at our house right now.
Marsha claimed that at first she was relieved the kidnappers reached to her, as it meant that they could begin negotiations to get Marsha back.
Carl, Carl’s husband, worked together with FBI agents to create responses to terrorist organizations. They called them the Independent reports. FBI informed them that Carl should sign all emails as terrorists will show more respect.
According to reports, the Obama administration assured their families that “IS will not harm a women”.
Marsha stated that soon, kidnappers demanded large amounts of money or the release Aafia Syediqui (a Pakistani citizen who was convicted of shooting US military personnel while in Afghanistan in 2010.)
Marsha said that her husband and she replied, “We are a small family with modest resources. We are worried because you ask for too much money. It is far more than we have ever earned in our lifetimes.”
They also reportedly told the captors that they had no influence on the American government to force Siddiqui’s release, but Kayla’s captors simply wrote back ‘get back to work,’ the BBC reported.
Emails revealing that ISIS only gave the Muellers 30 days for Siddiqui to be released or raise the money were revealed in court documents on Tuesday, July 12.
“If you do not meet this deadline, we can send you an image of Kayla’s corpse,” they wrote.
Marsha explained that Marsha and her husband signed all subsequent emails.
“I told the negotiators, I’m going to write it myself,” she stated in court. ‘Because I’m Kayla’s mom. It was something I had to do.
The family made numerous pleas for the kidnappers and finally sent the video message to them on September 16, 2014.
Marsha stated that her husband and Marsha began hearing reports of their daughter’s death in February 2015.
The terrorist group was contacted by them asking for confirmation. They replied: “The news about your daughter’s passing is true.”
According to the terrorists, Kayla was allegedly killed when Jordanian forces bombed her house. But, due to ISIS’ past of executions American hostages, it is now being challenged by prosecutors.
Marsha was required to give details to the jury about Kayla’s body in an email that also contained photos.
Her heartbreaking testimony followed that of Kayla’s ex-boyfriend Rodwan Safarjalani, a Syrian national who was kidnapped along with Kayla in 2013. He claimed they had been separated and that he was being held by ISIS intermittently while he searched for Kayla.
By the time the court broke for lunch Tuesday, another of Mueller’s ex-boyfriend Omar Alkhani shouted at Elsheikh, saying that he will be going to ‘hell’.
Washington Post reporter Rachel WeinerT.S. Ellis III, senior U.S. district judge Ellis III warned Alkhani, but declined to ban him. He explained that it wasn’t a threat. It was just a prediction.
Diane Foley and John Foley are the parents in this March 30 file photo. This was taken at the Alexandria federal courts house.
Kayla Mueller (left) was taken hostage and killed by ISIS Beatles (right). This cell is home to several British-accented jihadist fighters.
Marsha’s testimony is coming a day after James Foley’s mother said that her daughter initially believed reports about her son being executed were “some cruel joke”.
Diane Foley said Monday that she did not want to believe the statement.
Foley stated, “It seemed just too horrible.” I was hoping it would be a cruel joke.
Foley claimed it was submerged in the day after US President Barack Obama appeared on TV to confirm that James was indeed executed by IS captors.
Diane Foley was tireless in her efforts to get her son released. James is a veteran combat reporter who left Syria in October 2012 to report on the conflict and has promised that he would be returning for Christmas.
When he didn’t call them in November for Thanksgiving, the family started to panic.
Bethany Haines (center), the daughter of David Haines was killed by Islamic State militants. She departs from the Albert V. Bryan U.S.A. trial. Courthouse Tuesday
“Jim called us every holiday,” she stated. She said, “There was silence that was deafening when we were not able to hear from him.”
According to her, James’ colleague informed the family that James had been abducted.
“During the nine first months of Jim’s life, we didn’t know if he was still alive,” she stated.
James received emailed replies from his captors to three of the first concrete proofs that he was still alive.
Jihadi John killed a journalist’s brother, and he told terror trials that he had seen the video of Jihadi John’s sibling’s beheading ‘once’ or twice. He said that the footage has ‘burned in my brain.
James’ brother Michael Foley also testified, saying that he watched the clip of his sibling being beheaded ‘once or twice’, and that the footage is ‘burned into my brain’.
Also, he said that ransom requests made in 2012 by the terrorist group – which included 100 million euros and the release Islamist prisoners – showed that they weren’t serious about saving his brother James. In August 2014, the war photographer, aged 40, was killed in Raqqa (Syria), and footage of his death horrified the entire world.
Michael said at Alexandria’s hearing that it was impossible to meet either one of the demands. This is not an acceptable demand. I don’t consider it a negotiation.
He continued to explain how he first heard about his brother’s passing after being asked by reporters for confirmation. This was then provided by the former President Barack Obama days later.
Michael stated that he went online to see the video of his brother, wearing an orange jumpsuit with the IS knife-wielding executioner known simply as “Jihadi John.”
He said, “I saw it once or twice.” “I’ve not seen it since, but it’s ingrained in my mind.
Michael Foley (brother of James Foley), a US journalist who was killed by Islamic State militants leaves for a short break at the Albert V. Bryan U.S.A. trial. Courthouse, Tuesday
Pictured left: James Foley while covering the civil war in Aleppo, Syria. Pictured right: US aid worker Peter Kassig – otherwise known as Abdul-Rahman Kassig – in Syria
Left: US freelance journalist Steven Sotloff. Right: Kayla Mueller is shown after speaking to a group in Prescott, Arizona. ISIS killed both of them in Syria.
Elsheikh, who is also known as one “the Beatles”, was given the nickname by his captors due to their accents. The gang are believed to be responsible for the deaths of 27 hostages.
The horrific violence he used to inflict on prisoner’s was revealed during his trial last week.
Elsheikh also claims to have beat one hostage 25x after learning it was the 25th birthday of another captive.
Alexenda, Elsheikh’s long-time friend and accomplice, was captured with Elsheikh. They were brought together to Virginia for trial.
Kotey plead guilty to the charges last year under a plea agreement that would have resulted in a life sentence. The sentencing hearing for Kotey is set for April 29.
Elsheikh (right) is shown with ISIS Beatle Alexander Kotey (left), who reached a plea agreement last year for a life sentence
Aine, the fourth suspect ‘Beatle,’ is shown in 2014. Aine Davis is currently being held in a Turkish prison.
Mohammed Emwazi was the third Beatle who served as Foley’s executioner. Emwazi died as a result of a drone strike on November 2015. He was the voice behind some of ISIS’s most horrific execution videos.
The trial was marred by conflicting testimony about whether there is a fourth Beatle.
Aine, previously known as a fourth Beatle in public conversation, is now in Turkey serving a sentence of imprisonment.
Defense lawyers highlighted discrepancies in the identities of Beatles and said that there was not enough evidence to show Elsheikh participated in the hostage-taking plot.
The prosecution however plans to provide evidence in later stages of the trial to prove that Elsheikh has admitted his involvement under interrogation and during media interviews.