Katharine Lackey, USA Today, December 13, 2014

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The Middle East Media Research Institute says the Research and Fatwa Department of the Islamic State released the document titled “Questions and Answers on Taking Captives and Slaves,” which it claims was printed by the militant group’s publishing house.

The pamphlet–which MEMRI says was posted on a pro-Islamic State Twitter account–answers more than 20 questions and states, among other things, that it is OK to have sex with non-Muslim slaves, including adolescents, and that it is also acceptable to beat and trade them.

USA TODAY could not independently verify that the document was written by the Islamic State or its members, nor that it was printed by the group’s publishing house. However, its contents have been widely shared by news organizations. {snip}

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On the question of whether it is allowable to have sex with a slave who has not reached puberty, the document states: “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 document also says it is OK to buy, sell or trade a female captive because they are “merely property, which can be disposed of.” However, the pamphlet says a woman can’t be sold if she becomes pregnant by her owner.

It also says it is permissible to beat a slave so long as it’s a form of disciplinary beating. However, it is forbidden to hit the face.

In some of its answers, the document cites the Koran to back up its claims. In answering whether it’s OK to have sex with a captive, the pamphlet states, “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).'”

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