The richest terrorist organization across the globe continues an unbridled trail of terror. The Islamic State also known as IS and ISIS captured two Syrian civilian women and their husbands. The group claimed the married couples were performing acts of witchcraft, and sentenced them to death. The couples were beheaded and displayed for others in a way to force control through fear. While ISIS typically reserves the gruesome action for men, sources report the group has beheaded women previously.
The couples were murdered for providing a non-traditional medical remedy. Officials nor sources could confirm what remedy was used by the married couples. The first wife and husband were covered and beheaded on Sunday, and the second pair was murdered on Monday.
ISIS is dominating over Syria and taking vast control over its citizens. When the Ramadan fast begun in early June, ISIS captured five people, including teen boys, accusing them of not observing Ramadan.
The victims were suspended by their wrists before the public in a display of pain and humiliation. The group placed a sign on each of their necks, “to be crucified the whole day and to be whipped seventy lashes because of eating in Ramadan.” ISIS claims their intended goal is not to kill the individuals, but simply to remind them of their culture. During the punishment ISIS encouraged children and villagers to mock the victims and strike them as desired.
The terrorist faction separated from a previously run al-Qaeda leadership and continues to dominate in regions of Syria and Iraq. The two groups no longer communicate as ISIS continues to grow in wealth and support.
Their ideology prospers on complete government failure to establish a Sunni Islamic state. The group holds a massive amount of control in Syria and even has local supporters for their movement. Check out the map below from the Institute of the Study of War:
ISIS Control Map - Full Size click here
ISIS has a goal to also dominate over energy resources in Iraq and Syria. The group organizes themselves to extort money from humanitarian aids, export oil and even sell electricity to continually fund its cause. While their exports seem idea to the group, they do not have the experience of managing the infrastructure, and sources suggest the exports have slowed drastically.
Iraq forces are fighting back against the group, as the Obama administration has pledged military support to the country’s leaders to develop a combat plan. U.S. officials have not released a statement regarding the latest civilian attack in the region.