David Haines was a humanitarian aid worker who was abducted in Syria and killed. PA
David Haines was a humanitarian aid worker who was abducted in Syria and killed. PA
David Haines was a humanitarian aid worker who was abducted in Syria and killed. PA
David Haines was a humanitarian aid worker who was abducted in Syria and killed. PA

Daughter of ISIS victim David Haines to ask alleged terrorist for grave location details


Nicky Harley
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The daughter of ISIS victim David Haines is travelling to the US this week to make a personal plea at the trial of El Shafee Elsheikh for the terrorist group to reveal where her father's body is buried.

Mr Elsheikh, one of the alleged British ISIS 'Beatles' members, is due to stand trial for the murder of 28 hostages in Syria in 2014 and 2015.

The 33 year old from west London, who denies the charges, is one of the most senior ISIS members to be prosecuted.

Bethany Haines, right, leaving a memorial service to her father David Haines. Alamy
Bethany Haines, right, leaving a memorial service to her father David Haines. Alamy

Ms Haines's father was a humanitarian aid worker in Syria when he was abducted in 2013 and later murdered.

The group later released footage of his killing.

Ms Haines, 24, is travelling to the US to attend Mr Elsheikh's trial in Alexandria, Virginia, and has written a victim impact statement about her family's ordeal which she intends to read to the court if he is convicted.

Mr Elsheikh is not charged with Mr Haines murder due to the lack of US jurisdiction but she intends to ask him to “do the right thing” and reveal her father's final resting place.

“Don’t do it for me,” she intends to tell him. “Do it for my son, so that he can finally say goodbye to his grandad.”

“I’ve prepared for this for years,” she told The Sunday Times. “I want to be able to see him at all times; to see his facial expressions.”

Ms Haines told The Telegraph she wants to make it clear to the court that ISIS atrocities had "nothing" to do with religion.

“When it first happened, I was young and naive. I thought: Christians don’t go around doing this stuff," she said.

Ringleader of the Beatles terrorist group Mohammed Emwazi was killed in a US drone strike in Raqqa.

In Turkey in 2017, Aine Lesley Davis was sentenced to seven years in prison. Alexander Kotey pleaded guilty in the US last year and is awaiting sentence.

The UK agreed to hand over a wealth of operational intelligence on Kotey and Mr Elsheikh in return for a promise from the US Department of Justice to drop the death penalty in the case.

The UK does not have capital punishment and a British court had prevented co-operation in the case if the men were to face possible execution if convicted.

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Updated: March 28, 2022, 11:45 AM