ISIS have released a series of macabre images, that appear to show members of the Islamic militant group hugging two men accused of homosexuality before being stoned to death, British daily The Independent has reported.

The images - which have been shared around social media - come amid reports that ISIS militants have been posing as gay men to entrap victims, the report added.

Previous images have shown men accused of homosexuality being thrown off the top of buildings, or being beheaded. But according to the newspaper report, images appearing to show militants hugging their victims before they are then killed, are unusual.

According to Abu Mohammed Hussam, an activist with the Syrian group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), the militants apparently hugged the 24 and 29-year-old, before killing them to ‘pave the way for God to forgive them for their sins,’ the report added.

“ISIS has never forgiven one person,” Hussam was reported as saying. “They kill people and then say when God will forgive. They hug the men to show the people who are watching that ISIS is not at fault.”

The report added that the men had been sedated before their deaths - citing Hussam.

According to a recent report in The Daily Beast, men suspected of being homosexual are lured into a deadly trap by ISIS militants, who put their victims into a false sense of security before ambushing and then killing them.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:44 - GMT 06:44