The Islamic State has beheaded two female civilians in Syria "by the use of sword in public" for the first time, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The women were killed alongside their husbands in Deir Ezzor and Mayadin over the past two days. All were accused of "witchcraft and sorcery" after seeking out an unspecified nontraditional health remedy, reports Al Jazeera. ISIS claimed to have beheaded at least three female Kurdish Peshmerga fighters in the Syrian city of Kobane last year. However, the Observatory says Kurdish female fighters have only been beheaded after they died in battle, per AFP. Other female ISIS captives have been stoned to death.
"This is the first time the Observatory has documented women being killed by the group in this manner," the chief says. The terrorist group reportedly covered up the women before beheading them in front of a crowd. Earlier this week, the Observatory said it had recorded 3,027 ISIS executions; some 1,787 civilians were among those killed, including 74 children. Among the latest suffering brought about by ISIS: Eight people, including two minors, were crucified after being accused of breaking the Ramadan fast "with no religious justification." They reportedly hung from the crucifixes for a day as children were urged to taunt them, reports Reuters. They were taken down while still alive. (More Islamic State stories.)
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