Islamic State sinks even lower, beheads women for the first time

Islamic State sinks even lower, beheads women for the first time
By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries and the ASSIST News Service
SYRIA (ANS – July 1, 2015) – Just when you thought the hardline Islamic State terror group couldn’t sink any lower, comes the news that it has beheaded two women in Syria, the first time it has decapitated female civilians, the founder of a group monitoring the war said on Tuesday.
The beheadings took place in the eastern Deir al-Zor province this week, said Rami Abdulrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the conflict using sources on the ground.
One of the women was beheaded along with her husband in Deir al-Zor city. In al-Mayadeen city to the southeast, the group beheaded another woman and her husband. All of them were accused of sorcery, the monitor said.
“Islamic State has beheaded local and foreign men in Syria, including enemy combatants, aid workers and journalists as well as people it has deemed to be violating its hardline interpretation of Islamic law,” said Reuters in a story.
“Several of the group’s female captives have been stoned to death previously after being accused of adultery and other offenses. This is the first time it was reported to have beheaded female civilians.”
Islamic State also “crucified” five men in al-Mayadeen for eating during daylight hours of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the Observatory said.
They were hung up by their limbs on the city wall and children were encouraged to mock them as they suffered, it added.
“Activists say Islamic State uses such public punishments in areas where it is present to control the local population through coercion and fear,” added Reuters.
Photo caption: 1) Islamic State killers about to murder captured victims. 2) Dan Wooding recording his Front Page Radio show in Southern California. (Photo: OC Register)
About the writer: Dan Wooding, 74, is an award-winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for nearly 52 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK.
Note: If you would like to help support the ASSIST News Service, please go to www.assistnews.net  and click on the DONATE button to make you tax-deductible gift (in the US), which will help us continue to bring you these important stories. If you prefer, you can also make a check out to ASSIST and mail it to PO Box 609, Lake Forest, CA 92609, USA. We need your help at this important time to invest in this unique service. Also, please tell your friends about us and our free subscription.
** You may republish this and any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Read more