The hardliner Islamic State, which is known for imposing its regressive views and meting out harsh punishments, has now imposed a ban on shaving of beards and on wearing engagement rings in a city in its stronghold in Syria.
ISIS militants have issued threats to barbers in the city of al- Mayadin to the east of Deir Ezzor to abide by the new diktat of not shaving or cutting beards, threatening punishment to those who do, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
According to the report, ISIS has also banned engagement rings, after labelling it a Christian tradition, stating that wearing such rings could mean an "imitation" of Christians.
The ISIS militants are intolerant of "non-believers" and have engaged in brutal persecution of other communities, including Christians and Yazidis.
The group had reportedly beheaded four Christian children for refusing to convert to Islam last month.
The Islamic State has frequently issued guidelines based on its radical interpretation of the Sharia law. Only recently, ISIS had released a regressive set of "guidelines" calling for harsh punishments such as "stoning" for women having an "affair", chopping off hands for stealing and 80 lashes for drinking alcohol, among others.
