IS rounding up and executing boys for pigeon breeding in Iraq

This week alone, 15 boys and young men had been rounded up for pursuing the hobby

Islamic State fighters in Iraq are rounding up men who have been breeding pigeons in Iraq -- an activity that has been deemed un-Islamic by the group, The Mirror reported. 

Abu Abdullah, 52, has opened up about the moment earlier this week that six gunmen barged into his home and dragged away his 21-year-old son.

The young boy had been helping his family by adding to their income by selling pigeons.

This week alone, 15 boys and young men had been rounded up in the eastern province of Diyala for pursuing the hobby, of which three have already been executed.

Speaking to NBC News, the devastated farmer said, "My son was standing beside me. I asked them why and they said, 'he is not following the real Islam, he must be punished for being a pigeon breeder. This habit is taking him away from worshiping Allah.'"

The pigeons were placed in bags and burned before the young boy was taken away.

"I begged them again to know where are they taking him, what are they going to do with him. They said he is going to be taken to be judged according to the Islamic Sharia," Abdullah said adding that "they pushed me and when my son tried to stop them from pushing me they beat him. Then they put him inside the car and left."

Fighters continued to round up boys aged 16 to 22 throughout the village and destroyed their birds.



Security officials have said that recent crackdown on bird breeders has stemmed from ISIS' need for new fighters to battle against the Iraqi and Syrian governments.

People live mainly off farming but because of the fighting they are unable to sell what they cultivate, while some are turning to breeding pigeons and doves, either to race, eat or keep them as pets.

Extremists have targeted the hobby which was especially popular among the middle and lower classes before the US invasion in 2003 and some clerics have also been prompted to issue fatwas against bird breeders.

Abdullah was concluded as saying, "we are helpless and hopeless. I know they will kill him sooner or later. I'm waiting for someone to tell me he was killed and the only thing I will do is take his body and bury it."

Those who fail to follow the hardline interpretation of Islam imposed by the IS are often subjected to public executions.