ISIS threatens shop owners in Syria's Deir ez-Zor

ISIS cells in Deir ez-Zor have issued threats, demanding residents to pay taxes to ISIS or face consequences.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg 2024/01/11 20:06

ISIS has previously carried out mass killings following military assaults in Iraq and Syria, including the slaughter of hundreds of members of the al-Sheitat tribe in Deir ez-Zor in 2014. (Photo: AFP)

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) on Thursday reported that ISIS cells have sent threatening messages to the owners of shops, including money exchange shops.

The messages warn the shop owners to pay the "zakat" (Islamic tax) or face consequences by ISIS cells.

The messages sent through Whatsapp from non-Syrian foreign numbers have created a great fear among the people who have put up leaflets in Al-Hawaij and Dhiban in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, the SOHR report said.

The new threat of ISIS cells comes amidst increasing ISIS attacks in areas held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government in the New Year.

Last year, ISIS cells also spread fear among civilians in Deir ez-Zor by spreading posters on walls, mosques, and electricity poles threatening civilians if they fail to pay the 'zakat'.

Moreover, ISIS have stepped activities in disputed territories in Iraq.