Islamic State orders leader execution over espionage, southwest of Kirkuk
Islamic State members while execution.
“The self-styled chief of the IS legislative court has ordered on Sunday evening the execution of one of the group’s prominent leaders in Hawija, southwest of Kirkuk,” the source told AlSumaria News. “The leader, abu Omar al-Jabouri, is known to be close to the group’s supreme leader abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.”
The group’s judge, according to the source, accused Jabouri of treason and espionage against the group.
Earlier on the day, a source was quoted saying that the group banned mourning ceremonies for its dead members in Kirkuk in order not to demoralize its fighters.
Hawija has been held by IS since mid-2014, when the group emerged to proclaim an Islamic “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. The group executed dozens of civilians and security members there, forcing thousands to flee homes.
IS still holds three towns in western Anbar close to the borders with Syria, in addition to a few areas in Salahuddin, Diyala and Kirkuk.
Dozens of residents from Hawija and the regions in its vicinity escape to Kirkuk province on a daily basis. Despite the risky routes to the freed regions, the civilians prefer death to staying under IS control.