A shocking report claims between 90 and 100 Iraqi teenagers who dress in “emo” fashions, characterized by tight jeans and graphic T-shirts, accessories, and longish haircuts, have been stoned to death over the past few weeks by Shiite fundamentalists, a response to a warning about the “devil worshipping” lifestyle posted to the Interior Ministry’s website.
Militants in Shi’ite neighborhoods where the stonings have taken place circulated lists on Saturday naming more youths targeted to be killed if they do not change the way they dress.
The killings have taken place since Iraq’s interior ministry drew attention to the “emo” subculture last month, labeling it “Satanism” and ordering a community police force to stamp it out. The Ministry report says “The Emo phenomenon or devil worshipping 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 … 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.”
Iraq’s leading Shi’ite clerics have condemned the stonings.
The interior ministry said that no murders on its files could be blamed on the reaction to “emo” after reports of the stonings circulated on Iraqi media.
