Islamic State fighters in Iraq are rounding up men who have been breeding pigeons in Iraq – an activity that has been deemed un-Islamic by the group, The Mirror reported.
Abu Abdullah, 52, has opened up about the moment earlier this week that six gunmen barged into his home and dragged away his 21-year-old son.
The young boy had been helping his family by adding to their income by selling pigeons.
This week alone, 15 boys and young men had been rounded up in the eastern province of Diyala for pursuing the hobby, of which three have already been executed.
Speaking to NBC News, the devastated farmer said, “My son was standing beside me. I asked them why and they said, ‘he is not following the real Islam, he must be punished for being a pigeon breeder. This habit is taking him away from worshiping Allah.’”
The pigeons were placed in bags and burned before the young boy was taken away.
“I begged them again to know where are they taking him, what are they going to do with him. They said he is going to be taken to be judged according to the Islamic Sharia,” Abdullah said adding that “they pushed me and when my son tried to stop them from pushing me they beat him. Then they put him inside the car and left.”
Fighters continued to round up boys aged 16 to 22 throughout the village and destroyed their birds.
