Commenting on threats to barbers, Rasem said, “Not every barber receives death threats, except those who live in neighborhoods where security forces are not heavily present. I learned that the Iraqi army intelligence tracked down phone numbers to the owners who were sending threatening texts and arrested many of them.”
He added, “However, many people, regardless of their profession … are being threatened by extremists. But the people of Mosul will forge their way into normal life despite everything."
IS brought with it many other fatwas to Syria and Iraq in 2014. One forbade girls from wearing jeans or sweaters, requiring instead the Islamic abaya and burqa. The group also forbade women to wear makeup, or smoke cigarettes or hookahs. Women had to close up their sewing shops and hair salons if men were present.
Anyone using the term “Daesh,” which the group considers an insult, instead of the name Islamic State received 70 lashes or worse.
The same conditions existed in Baghdad before 2008 when al-Qaeda operated in secret, sending anonymous threats to stores that sold liquor or cigarettes, as well as barbershops.
Therefore, citizens believe it is imperative for security forces in the city to track down any remaining IS cells and lone attackers who are expected to do as much damage as possible to show strength after their defeat.
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