ISIS has brought another archaic rule in parts of Iraq by forcing all men in the country to grow beards. The Islamic State has distributed leaflets in Mosul, the Iraqi capital of the group’s self- proclaimed caliphate, threatening severe punishment for men who shave off their beards as it is forbidden according to Sharia law.
According to an AFP report, the pamphlets distributed last month say that full beards are compulsory from June 1. The pamphlets have reportedly quoted Prophet Mohammed to back the claim that the Prophet had barred men from shaving.
A teacher told AFP, "They want to make everyone a human shield... With military operations (to retake Mosul) looming, they want to blend in with the population."
The translation of the pamphlet says, "What hairdressers do today, shaving and trimming men's beards, is an accessory to sin. Thanks to our brothers from the Islamic police, an order has been issued for the shaving of beards to be banned and violators to be detained."
Laith Ahmed, an 18 year old from Iraq, told AFP, "My facial hair is just slow to come out for my age. I'm scared because they deal ruthlessly with anyone who opposes or ignores their instructions."
A local historian, who calls himself Mosul Eye, posted the leaflet on his Facebook page.
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Earlier Mosul Eye had reported that the terrorist group had locked up some young men in jail for three months for shaving off their beard.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based opposition group, the ISIS had ordered a shaving ban back in December in the city of al-Mayadin in eastern Syria as well.