ISIS is following in the footsteps of Afghanistan’s Taliban in Iraq’s Mosul. The jihadist group has banned shaving and made full beards mandatory for men in Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq. The terror outfit has also established “beard patrols” to oversee enforcement of the ban that could send men to jail for shaving their beard.
The Islamic State has handed out leaflets in recent weeks stating that from June 1 onward all men must grow full beards or face severe punishment. A translation of the leaflet reads, “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.”
The edict includes a series of hadiths confirming the claim that Prophet Mohammed barred men from shaving.
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Mosul Eye, a local historian who posted the leaftet, added that whoever fails to comply with IS order to grow beards will suffer severe punishment.
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Full beard was made compulsory during Taliban rule in Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001. According to reports, The Taliban had “beard patrols” that could jail men for trimming their beards. Men’s beards had to be long enough to pass a fist clasped at the chin.
An 18-year-old from Mosul told AFP of his fears of punishment. “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.” Nadhim Ali, a 30-year-old taxi driver, said he has never been able to grow a beard or even a mustache because of the bad skin rashes he gets. He said he submitted medical reports on the matter to the religious police. “They didn’t care… One of them told me I’d better stay at home if I shaved.”
Mosul residents added a tougher beard policy imposed by IS was a ploy and not a sign of renewed religious zeal. Umm Mohammed 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.”
ISIS mandating people in Iraq to have a uniform appearance so they can use civilians as human shields http://t.co/EEBbHkek5m
— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) June 1, 2015
