Three men executed by IS for homosexuality in Libya

The Libya Herald reports that three men, accused of being homosexual, are reported to have been executed by the Islamic State (IS) in Derna yesterday. The men were reportedly shot in the head at the town’s main Ateeq Mosque following afternoon (Asr) prayers, after being seized some months go.

The three have been named as Naseeb Al-Jazwi, Faraj Al-Shewi and Saad al Fahakhri.  

According to the newspaper, following the creation of a Sharia court in Derna last year, IS has imposed rigid Sharia law in the town. There have been public decapitations, lashings for drinking alcohol, and a fortnight ago, a man accused of stealing gold had his hand cut off. Its rigid interpretation of Islam, has also included a ban on smoking and strict gender segregation similar to that imposed in Afghanistan during the Taliban era.

In November 2012, 12 men said to be homosexuals, were arrested by the Islamist Nawasi Brigade in Tripoli at a transvestite party. They were supposedly released a few days later but this was then denied. And they have not been heard of since.