Militants affiliated with the notorious Islamic State (IS) stoned two woman to death in northern Syria last month.
The Associated Press reported on Saturday that both women were killed because they allegedly committed adultery — a capital offense according to the strict Islamic law practiced by IS extremists.
Both women were killed within 24 hours of each other in mid-July. Shamseh Abdullah was executed on July 17 in the town of Tabqa, while Faddah Ahmad was executed on July 18 in the IS stronghold of Raqqa, which is considered the “capital” of the caliphate.
Eyewitnesses report that local residents were encouraged to join in the brutal killing of Ahmad, but in the end, only IS fighters hurled stones at her. They also reported that the victim showed little emotion as she was pelted to death. (RELATED: IS To Mosul Christians: Convert Or Face The Sword)
Pictures of the two stonings recently appeared on Twitter, documenting the brutal ordeals. The account that posted them has since been suspended, but the photos have helped bring greater attention to the two incidents.
According to the AP, these are the first reported stonings committed by IS, but they are only a few examples of the atrocities the Sunni radicals have perpetuated. They are currently threatening to exterminate 30,000 members of the Yazidi minority group in northern Iraq, and have executed several thousand Shiite Muslims and other declared enemies in the the territories they have conquered. (RELATED: Yazidis At White House Plead For Weapons And Aid)
President Barack Obama announced Thursday that the United States would begin launching airstrikes against the group in northern Iraq. (RELATED: ISIS Threatens America: ‘We Will Raise The Flag Of Allah In The White House’)