Islamic State Reportedly Beheads Teen for Skipping Muslim Prayers

“The teenage boy, who faced charges of apostasy, was beheaded in front of a huge crowd in central Jarabulus on Saturday,” local media activist Nasser Taljbini told ARA News, referring to a Syrian city near Aleppo.

“Before carrying out the execution, a Sharia official read a statement issued by the ISIS Sharia Court, vowing everyone who misses prayers at the mosque to face a similar punishment,” an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity told ARA News.

Taljbini said that the youth “was given a short trial that lasted only a few minutes, and was then led away to the town square where he was beheaded in front of a large audience who had gathered to watch the execution.”

The Jerusalem Post, citing another Kurdish report, added that the teen was arrested by the Islamic State’s secret police service when he was hiding at a relative’s house.

A similar incident came to light in January when the Kurdish news outlet reported that a 14-year-old boy had been beheaded for missing Friday prayers. In that case, eyewitnesses said that his parents were forced to watch the execution.

ANA noted that the central mosque in Jarabulus is used by pro-Islamic State group clerics to promote the jihadist organization’s efforts at establishing an Islamic caliphate.