ISIS Starting to Decapitate All Smokers, Even High-ranking Officials

The Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq began imposing radical restrictions on the public when they strictly banned cursing, alcohol and smoking - acts which they considered to be haraam or sinful. Smoking in particular has been severely condemned over the last few weeks. This was observed through the severed head of an ISIS official in Eastern Syria when it was found with a cigarette attached to its mouth. In an article published by the Los Angeles Times, the head was also found close to the decapitated body with the Arabic note "This is not permissible, Shiek"

In a statement by the ISIS preaching office, "Every smoker should be aware that with every cigarette he smokes in a state of trance and vanity is disobeying god. Three days following the issuance of the statement, selling tobacco and shisha will be strictly prohibited and those who insist on selling them will bring injustice upon themselves and upon other people. All tobacco quantities will be burned and the seller will be punished according to Sharia."

Traditionally, the use of cigarettes is not banned in Islam but with the Islamic State adopting a severe interpretation of Sharia law, the group has now considered smoking to be a form of 'slow suicide.' They began imposing other restrictions as well, which required women to wear full face veils and people were prohibited from even listening to music.

To fully enforce the smoking ban, the group burnt millions of cigarettes packs in Iraq and Syria and also doused acres of marijuana fields with gasoline. The videos of the burning fields were then posted on various social media sites.

The ISIS announced that those who violate the smoking ban will receive a minimum penalty of 40 lashes with a whip, while repeat offenders could face execution or be sent to prison. Many people who struggle to control their urges are often known to cross across the border to Turkey, where they take secret smoking breaks.