The pamphlet handed out by ISIS militants answers over 27 questions, and approves the enslavement, rape - including of prepubescent girls - and sale of sex slaves.
By DOV LIEBERCover page of ISIS pamphlet on sexual slavery(photo credit: MEMRI)
Perhaps you were wondering if all the terrible tales of Islamic State sex slavery could be true? After all, they claim to be an ultra-religious group.Unfortunately, new evidence reveals the situation is indeed as grim, if not grimmer, than the reports.Islamists recently handed out pamphlets in Mosul, Iraq, entitled, “Questions and Answers on Taking Captives and Slaves,” explaining in a clear question- and-answer format the official positions of Islamic State concerning female slavery, according to CNN.“Can all unbelieving women be taken captive?” reads one question, taken from the translation done by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).The answer: “There is no dispute among the scholars that it is permissible to capture unbelieving women [i.e. any non-Muslim woman].”The next question: “Can one have intercourse with a female captive?” Answer: “It is permissible to have sexual intercourse with the female captive. Allah the almighty said: ‘[Successful are the believers] who guard their chastity, except from their wives or [the captives and slaves] that their right hands possess, for then they are free from blame [Koran 23:5-6].’” Once laying the groundwork for the legality of female sex slaves, the booklet expounds upon what kind of sex.“If she is a virgin, he [her master] can have intercourse with her immediately,” explains the pamphlet. “However, if she isn’t, her uterus must be purified [first]... ” How to purify a uterus is not explained in the pamphlet.What about child sex slavery? Islamic State has an answer for that as well.Q: “Is it permissible to have intercourse with a female slave who has not reached puberty?” A: “It is permissible to have intercourse with the female slave who hasn’t reached puberty if she is fit for intercourse; however if she is not fit for intercourse, then it is enough to enjoy her without intercourse.”The 27 questions and answers translated by MEMRI reveal a systematic look into sexual slavery, answering a variety of questions, such as if one can sleep with two sisters, buying and selling slaves and covering up a slave during prayer.
Harrowing personal accounts from female escapees of Islamic State’s sexual slavery have been flowing into the media over the recent months. This pamphlet’s publishing implies that questions concerning sexual slavery were becoming frequent following Islamic State’s rise.Unfortunately, this strengthens reports of thousands of Yazidi women and other minorities being taken into sexual slavery by the terrorist group.
