BAGHDAD: The self-styled Islamic State jihadist group said it has stoned two men to death for adultery in the northern Iraqi province of Nineveh, according to a series of photos posted online.

One man is shown kneeling blindfolded in front of a group of men who hurl large stones at him until he is lying face down on the ground, blood running from his head.

A second man is then killed in the same way, as a crowd including children looks on.

It is not known when the stonings took place, and the authenticity of the pictures could not be immediately confirmed.

The IS group led an offensive last June that overran large areas north and west of Baghdad, sweeping security forces aside.

IS has carried out a string of atrocities including videotaped beheadings and mass executions, rape and enslavement in areas it controls in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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