Syria jihadist kills mother after she asked him to leave IS

Image
AFP Beirut
Last Updated : Jan 08 2016 | 7:49 PM IST
An Islamic State jihadist killed his mother in a public square in the Syrian city of Raqa who begged him to leave the organisation, a monitor said Friday.
Ali Saqr, 20, had reported his mother, Lina, to IS authorities in Raqa "because she tried to persuade him to leave IS and flee the city," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Authorities subsequently arrested the woman and accused her of apostasy, the monitoring group said.
On Wednesday, she was shot to death by her son "in front of hundreds of people close to the mail service building in Raqa city," the Observatory added.
Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said the woman, who was in her forties, was living in the nearby town of Tabaqa but worked in Raqa city.
The incident was widely condemned online by social media users.
Raqa is the de facto Syrian capital of IS's so-called "caliphate," the territories it controls in Syria and Iraq where it imposes its harsh interpretations of Islamic law.
Among the crimes that warrant a death sentence in IS territories are homosexuality, "exposing jihadist genitalia," adultery and intercourse with animals, according to the Observatory.
Other acts punishable by death range from blocking roads to "betraying Muslims" and working with anti-IS groups including the "crusader" US-led coalition.
Even capturing and torturing an anti-IS activist or fighter without proper authorisation from jihadist authorities could be met with a death sentence.
But in IS-held territories, using child soldiers and "owning slaves", which are typically sexually abused, are both legal.
And the extremist group has been accused of carrying out mass killings, torture, rape and sexual slavery.
A US-led coalition has been striking the jihadists in Syria and Iraq for over a year.
More than 260,000 people have been killed in Syria's war since it erupted in March 2011.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 08 2016 | 7:49 PM IST

Next Story