Referring to strict Sharia norms, the Islamic State has imposed restrictions on tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use, labeling these acts as "sinful." The ISIL Preaching Office reportedly qualified smoking as a "slow suicide," adding that it results in both "financial and health damages."
"Every smoker should be aware that with every cigarette he smokes in a state of trance and vanity is disobeying God," the statement said.
In September 2014, Islamists released images depicting "cigarette-burning" ceremonies in Syria and Iraq which were reposted by Twitter users:
Do you know that cigarettes are not allowed in the Islamic State? Despite bombing, fighters enforcing cigarette ban. pic.twitter.com/VnlTaxEblc
— Mustho (@musthoz) 28 сентября 2014
Earlier this year media reported that an ISIL "emir" was found beheaded in the eastern Syrian city of Al-Mayadeen. The sheikh's head was lying nearby with a cigarette in its lips. Those who killed the man left a warning written on his body, stating that smoking was inacceptable.
Cannabis cultivation has also been restricted by the jihadists. Marijuana fields, seized from the Free Syrian Army were burned by the Islamic State insurgents, who claimed that the pot smoking was a "haram" (a sin).
Twitter users pointed out that the Islamic State "police" confiscated large quantities of marijuana in Iraq and Syria, waging their own "war on drugs":
#Syria #Kobani: Islamic State (#IS) said today they confiscated large quantities of Cannabis (Hashish). #ISIS #ISIL pic.twitter.com/yjjHreiPAC
— Naser AL-Tamimi (@nasertamimi) 8 октября 2014
#IS/#ISIS/#IslamicState wage their own #DrugWar against #Cannabis in Tal Abyad, #Syria. #No2ISIS #Marijuana #Drugs pic.twitter.com/3B1ZKrhVA5
— Ash J (@AshAgony) 17 августа 2014
However, experts express doubts regarding ISIL's attack against the cannabis trade, referring to the fact that marijuana had become a substantial source of profit for the Syrian rebels and it's highly unlikely that ISIL will blow a chance to make money selling cannabis.
"Every smoker should be aware that with every cigarette he smokes in a state of trance and vanity is disobeying God," the ISIL Preaching Office stated.
It still remains unclear, will the beheading measure prove really efficient and solve the smoking problem in the notorious Islamic State.
