Isis imposes ban on pigeon breeders as sight of birds' genitals is against Islam

Islamic State (Isis) has placed a ban on pigeon breeders as looking at the birds' genitals, when they fly, is anti-Islamic and haram.

Clerics, who oversee the implementation of Islamic Shariah laws in the IS-controlled regions in Iraq and Syria, have issued an order prohibiting the breeding of pigeons in their territories.

According to the Mail Online, those who are in IS-held provinces have been given one week's notice to stop the practice else face the wrath of the IS police, or Hisbah.

The punishments for violations include public flogging and hefty fines.

An order from the Arabic notice circulated to residents stated that the latest ban is "to put a stop to the greater criminal act of harming one's Muslim and Muslim women neighbours, revealing the [pigeon's] genitals and wasting time".

It went on: "All those who keep pigeons above the roofs of their houses must stop doing this entirely within a week of the date of the issuing of this statement."

"Whosoever violates it will be subject to consequences of reprimand including a financial fine, imprisonment and flogging."

An alleged ban on the pigeons was already doing the rounds, however, it was suspected that it was meant to prevent spying activists from anti-IS forces. The group has also called on the residents to report those that flout the rules so that people avoid looking at pigeons' genitals.