IS religious police publicly lashes musicians

Militant group reinforces flagellation as a deterrent to playing ‘un-Islamic’ electronic keyboard.

Religious policing has been a constitutional stipulation in hardliner theocracies Iran and Saudi Arabia, but the practice has now permeated the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS). The militant group’s religious guards recently lashed two musicians in Syria for playing instruments they deem “offensive to Muslims”. Reinforcing flagellation and humiliation as deterrents to ‘un-Islamic’ practices, the group released a video and images this week, featuring the musicians being hit in a public square for playing an electric keyboard and a lute, reported Daily Mail.

The text placed next to an image read that the musicians were punished with 90 lashes a man who was caught impersonating a ‘hisbah’ (likely refers to a tribal leader or official). Previously, a man was subjected to 50 lashes for smuggling cigarettes. Another picture showcased two keyboards and a lute smashed to pieces, following raids that reportedly took place in Bujaq, situated a few miles to the east of Aleppo in Syria.

According to Al-Arabiya News, the United Nations on Tuesday condemned the multiple civilian executions in Iraq at the hands of IS, portending that educated women are posed with a grave threat. UN spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said, “Educated, professional women, particularly women who have run as candidates in elections for public office, seem to be particularly at risk.” She added, “In just the first two weeks of this year, reports indicate that three female lawyers were executed.”



The UN human rights office proclaimed that the group has been showcasing a “monstrous disregard for human life” in the areas in Iraq under their control. Last week, the group published photographs of the ‘crucifixions’ of two men, accused of being bandits, and a women being stoned to death for allegedly committing adultery.

Since the group imposed control across Syria and Iraq, it claims to have established a Caliphate in the Middle East, implementing its radical interpretation of Sharia law. Pictures of thieves having their hands and arms amputated publicly have frequently surfaced. A few days ago, 15 pigeon breeders in eastern Iraq were captured, with IS citing that the sport distracted them from praising Allah. Out of those held, three were reportedly killed.

In other news, 13 youngsters were killed by IS’ firing squad in Mosul for violating religious laws by watching an Asian Cup football match between Iraq and Jordan, a crime that was read out on loudspeaker prior to their executions. This was preceded by IS releasing a video, which featured two men being thrown off the top of a tower in Raqqa, for being homosexuals. Last month, IS’ all-female police, known as the Al Khansa brigade, inflicted torture upon a woman for breastfeeding her baby in public, using a spiked clamp called the ‘biter’.

COMPILED BY: AYESHA SHAIKH

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd,  2015.

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