AT LEAST 90 Iraqi teenagers with 'emo' appearances have been stoned to death by religious extremists in Baghdad in the past month after an inflammatory interior ministry statement dubbed it 'devil worshiping', activists said.
Iraq's Moral Police released a chilling statement on the interior ministry's website condemning the 'emo phenomenon' among Iraqi youth, disturbingly declaring its intent to 'eliminate' the trend.
"The 'Emo phenomenon' or devil worshiping is being followed by the Moral Police who have the approval to eliminate [the phenomenon] as soon as possible since it's detrimentally affecting the society and becoming a danger," the statement read.
Iraqi activists said this unnamed teenager was brutally killed by religious police for having an 'emo' hairstyle
Iraqi activists said this unnamed teenager was brutally killed by religious police for having an 'emo' hairstyle
"They wear strange, tight clothes that have pictures on them such as skulls and use stationary that are shaped as skulls. They also wear rings on their noses and tongues, and do other strange activities," it continued.
Religious extremists have caught onto the interior ministry statement, and have been harassing and killing teenagers with 'strange' or 'emo' appearances.
A group of armed men dressed in civilian clothing led dozens of teenagers to secluded areas a few days ago, stoned them to death, and then disposed their bodies in garbage dumpsters across the capital, according to activists.
The armed men are said to belong to 'one of the most extremist religious groups'" in Iraq.
“First they throw concrete blocks at the boy's arms, then at his legs, then the final blow is to his head, and if he is not dead then, they start all over again,” one person who managed to escape told Al-Akhbar.
Iraq's moral police was granted approval by the Ministry of Education to enter Baghdad schools and pinpoint students with such appearances, according to the interior ministry's statement.
The exact death toll remains unclear, but Hana al-Bayaty of Brussels Tribunal, an NGO dealing with Iraqi issues, said the current figure ranges 'between 90 and 100.'
"What's most disturbing about this is that they're so young," she said.
Al-Bayaty said the killings appear to have been carried out by extremist Shia militias in mostly poor Shia neighborhoods and said she suspected "there's complicity of the Ministry of Interior in the killings."
Photos of the victims were released on Facebook, causing panic and fear among Iraqi students.
A body of a dead Iraqi teenager. Religious extremists have been harassing and killing teenagers with 'strange' or 'emo' appearances
A body of a dead Iraqi teenager. Religious extremists have been harassing and killing teenagers with 'strange' or 'emo' appearances
A young man with long hair expressed alarm at the government-ordained harassment of teenagers with Western appearances.
“I have long hair but that doesn't mean I'm an Emo. I'm not less of a man if I have long hair."
"Let's not say that if I have long hair, I'm a homosexual, but I have long hair because this is my style, this is me," he told Iraq's Al-Sharqiya television network.
"Emo" has been described as both a cult and sect, it’s name derives from the word 'emotional'
Its teen followers dress in black, favouring tight jeans, T-shirts, studded belts and sneakers or skater shoes.
Hair is often dyed black and straightened, and worn in a long fringe brushed to one side of the face.
Music also plays a critical role, Emos like guitar-based rock with emotional lyrics - bands such as My Chemical Romance, Jimmy Eat World, and Dashboard Confessional are particular favourites.
They regard themselves as a cool, young sub-set of the Goths. With the trend comes accusations of self-harming and suicide - something its followers strongly deny. (al-akhbar)
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