Teenagers in Iraq reportedly being stoned to death for their "emo" appearance

Sad news coming across the wire today from Lebanese site Al Akhbar, who reports that as many as 90-100 Iraqi teenagers have been stoned to death in the past month for having “emo” appearances in clothes and hair. The report claims that the Iraqi Moral Police, an extremist group with a presence in Baghdad, are behind the attacks:

“Iraq's Moral Police released a chilling statement on the interior ministry's website condemning the “emo phenomenon” among Iraqi youth, disturbingly declaring its intent to “eliminate” the trend.

'The 'Emo phenomenon' or devil worshiping is being followed by the Moral Police who have the approval to eliminate [the phenomenon] as soon as possible since it's detrimentally affecting the society and becoming a danger,' the statement read.

“They wear strange, tight clothes that have pictures on them such as skulls and use stationary that are shaped as skulls. They also wear rings on their noses and tongues, and do other strange activities,” it continued.

A group of armed men dressed in civilian clothing led dozens of teenagers to secluded areas a few days ago, stoned them to death, and then disposed their bodies in garbage dumpsters across the capital, according to activists”

The report goes on to state that this Moral Police was granted approval from Iraq's Ministry of Education to infiltrate schools and single out teenagers with these appearances, and that photos of the victims made their way onto Facebook, escalating fear among other students. 

Other reports are claiming that young Iraqi LGBT people have been recently targeted as well, with deaths reportedly in the dozens:

“In Baghdad local media reported massacres of emo youth and LGBT people occurring in the districts of Sadr, Chaala, Albaladiat, Baghdad Al-Jadedah, Karadah and Kadhymia. The number of victims claimed ranges from 56 to 100.

An Iraqi LGBTQ activist reported an eyewitness account about a method used to murder victims by hitting their heads and body parts with concrete blocks repeatedly until death.

Another method, reported by Iraqi media, involves pushing off the tops of high buildings.

In addition five survivors were murdered inside hospitals according to a confidential witness, cited in the activist’s report.

According to the same LGBTQ activist, at least 45 victims had been killed (mostly gay men in Baghdad only) according to family members and medical staff in some hospitals.”

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