The Islamic State has made clear its justification for the rape and enslavement of non-Muslim women and children with a color-printed pamphlet “Question and Answers on Female Slaves and their Freedom,” being distributed in Mosul.
Armed men handed out the pamphlet in the militant occupied Iraqi city on Friday after sunset prayers, several residents told CNN on Saturday.
The document explains the terrorist group’s policy on having sexual intercourse with female slaves — even those who haven’t reached puberty — citing the Koran for justification.
“If she was a virgin, he (the owner) can have intercourse with her immediately after the ownership is fulfilled,” the pamphlet explains, CNN reported. “If she was not a virgin, her uterus must be purified (wait for her period to be sure she is not pregnant.)”
The guide lays out other rules as well. For example, two men who co-own a slave can’t both have sex with her and a man can’t have sex with his wife’s slave.
Regarding children: “It is permissible to have intercourse with the female slave who hasn’t reached puberty if she is fit for intercourse,” The Islamic State rules said. “However, if she is not fit for intercourse, he (the owner) can only enjoy her without intercourse.”
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But the Q&A makes is clear that the captors have complete control of their captives.
“It is permissible to buy, sell or give as a gift female captives and slaves, for they are merely property,” the pamphlet reads.
However, a female slave can buy her freedom. The document also says that someone who has committed an act like unintentional murder or perjury can free a slave to be forgiven of his sin. But fasting for two consecutive months or feeding hungry people will serves the same purpose.
But a slave that runs away from their master is identified as committing one of “the gravest of sins.”
A captive mother cannot be separated from her young children and a pregnant slave cannot be sold, according to the guidelines. Beating a female slave for discipline is allowed, but beating her for pleasure as a form of torture is not, CNN reported.
The pamphlet is the most detailed justification for enslaving nonbelievers, as identified by The Islamic State and the group continues to cite the Koran and Sharia law for the rules.
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Abbas Barzegar, a professor of religious studies at Georgia State University, told CNN that the militant group was drawing the rules from ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean codes of conduct for war and prisoners.
“Muslim leaders and lay practitioners the world over continue to condemn ISIS and find its alien interpretation of Islam grotesque and abhorrent,” Mr. Barzegar said, CNN reported. “Unfortunately, in the context of failed states and civil wars most sane voices are often the most drowned out.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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