Beheadings Of Women A First For ISIS: Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

RTR4R9OY — A masked, black-clad militant, identified as a Briton named Mohammed Emwazi, stands next to a man purported to be Steven Sotloff, in this still image from a video obtained from SITE Intelligence Group, Feb. 26, 2015. The "Jihadi John" killer has been seen in several Islamic State group beheading videos. Reuters/SITE Intelligence Group via Reuters TV

Islamic State group terrorists recently beheaded two women who had been accused of witchcraft and sorcery, according to reports. It was reportedly the first time the extremist group -- which is also known as ISIS or ISIL -- has beheaded women.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the beheadings took place in Syria. The women and their husbands were executed by ISIS militants, the monitor said. One of the beheadings took place Sunday, the other on Monday.

SOHR head Rami Abdulrahman confirmed the executions. "ISIS executed two women by beheading them in Deir Ezzor [Deir al-Zor] province [in eastern Syria], and this is the first time the observatory has documented women being killed by the group in this manner," Abdulrahman said, according to Russia Today.

ISIS has previously executed women by other means. For example, some female captives have been stoned to death for offenses such as adultery.

ISIS also recently crucified eight male captives after they had failed to fast during Ramadan, the holy month of Islam. The male captives included two minors. [Ramadan began June 17 and is scheduled to end July 17.]

Jerusalem Post reported that ISIS crucified five men in al-Mayadeen after they had been caught eating during the fasting hours of Ramadan. The observatory said the men had been hung up by their limbs on a city wall. Children were told to ridicule the men while they suffered.

ISIS is known for beheading numerous men, including foreign nationals, in Syria. It often promotes the executions by recording them on video and posting them online. ISIS also performed a high-profile execution of U.S. journalist James Foley, an act widely criticized all over the world.

According to activists, ISIS militants use public executions as acts of terrorism. The militant group performed a mass execution of 21 Christian Egyptians after kidnapping them in Libya. The mass beheading was captured on camera and shared online.

According to reports, ISIS burned 45 people alive in western Iraq. Moath al-Kasasbeh, a Jordanian pilot kidnapped in December 2014, was burned alive in a cage.