Beatle gets life in prison in beheading murder of war journalist James W. Foley

El Shafee Elsheikh (U.S. Department of Justice)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - James W. Foley Legacy Foundation Founder and President Diane Foley convened a press conference on Friday at U.S. District Courthouse in Alexandria following the sentencing of El Shafee Elsheikh to life in prison for his role in the kidnapping of 26 hostages and murders of four, including her son, James Foley.

El Shafee Elsheikh, one of a group of Islamic State terrorists called "the Beatles" because of their English accents, was known for torturing and beating their prisoners. He will serve eight concurrent life sentences in federal prison.

"The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation welcomes this (life sentence) for El Shafee Elsheikh," said Foley. "In order to deter violent crimes like international kidnapping, torture, and execution of American citizens, we must have accountability. We must have justice. With today's verdict, justice has finally been served."

Today's sentencing falls on the eighth anniversary of James Foley's murder in Syria.

"The anniversary of your child's murder is a solemn and tragic marker that no family should have to endure," said Foley. "Yet the horror of international hostage taking continues for more than 67 U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage abroad. I urgently call on President Biden to employ our shrewdest negotiation to urgently bring these Americans home, lest they die in captivity as our beautiful, brilliant son tragically died. The only true measure of our resolve as a nation is the actual return of our U.S nationals."

James W. Foley was an independent American conflict journalist who worked extensively across the Middle East. He was taken hostage by ISIS in Syria in 2012 and was killed in 2014. His impact on colleagues and friends has been highlighted in the award-winning documentary film "Jim: The James Foley Story."

James Foley grew up in Wolfeboro, N.H. His family has lived in Rochester, N.H. for many years. The Rochester Community Center was recently renamed the James W. Foley Community Center in his memory.

The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation is a registered nonprofit foundation that advocates for the freedom of all Americans held hostage abroad and promotes the safety of journalists worldwide.

For more information about the foundation, or to learn how you can make an impact, please visit www.jamesfoleyfoundation.org or contact Amy Coyne at amy.coyne@jamesfoleyfoundation.org.