Advertisement

Islamic State beheads women for sorcery

By Tomas Monzon
The beheading of two women and their husbands in Syria was a first for the Islamic State. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.
The beheading of two women and their husbands in Syria was a first for the Islamic State. Photo courtesy of Google Maps.

DEIR AL-ZOUR, Syria, June 30 (UPI) -- The Islamic State beheaded two women in Syria for the first time on Tuesday.

The beheadings occurred in separate Syrian locations. One took place in the city of Deir al-Zor, where a woman and her husband were decapitated following charges of sorcery and witchcraft. Another couple faced the same fate in the town of al-Mayadeen, along with five other men who were crucified after being accused of eating during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan, an annual fasting season for believers of Islam.

Advertisement

Beheadings are typically reserved for men, meaning this marks the first time that the Islamic State has decapitated women. However, women have been stoned to death before for adultery and violence against female soldiers from the Kurdish militia has also been inflicted.

The Islamic State's extreme interpretation of Islamic law has motivated this violence, which has also led to gay men being thrown off buildings and teenagers hung from their limbs on city walls.

Monday marked the first anniversary of the Islamic State, whose growth continues despite an international campaign to defeat them.

Advertisement

The total cost of U.S. military operations in Iraq and Syria has reached almost $3 billion.

Analysts say that this year has been very positive for the Islamic State, as Iraqi soldiers lack the will to fight them and cities such as Iraq's Ramadi continue to fall under IS control.

Latest Headlines