Unmarried couple stoned to death for living together

May 18, 2017 12:40 AM

The stoning occurred in Taghlit, close to Aguelhok and a source disclosed that members of the public were reportedly invited to take part in the dastardly act.

Couple holding hands (Illustration)

An unmarried couple suffered a terrible fate when they were stoned to death for living together outside of wedlock.

The shocking incident which took place in Northeast Mali and carried out by Islamists is reportedly the first of its kind since 2012.

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Local officials told AFP on Wednesday, May 17, 2017:

“The Islamists dug two holes where they put the man and the woman who lived maritally without being married.

“They were stoned to death.”

Punch reports that the stoning occurred in Taghlit, close to Aguelhok in the Kidal region and a source disclosed that members of the public were reportedly invited to take part in the dastardly act.

“Four people threw stones at them until they died,” the source said.

Confirming the information, another local official said the Islamists had accused the unmarried couple of violating “Islamic law”, which requires punishment by stoning.

Since Northern Mali fell to Jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in March 2012, the groups have imposed a version of Sharia law which forced women to wear veils, while setting whipping and stoning as punishments for transgressions.

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The Ansar Dine group stoned a couple in public in Aguelhok for allegedly having children outside of wedlock.