Aden, Yemen:
Al-Qaeda gunmen have killed two people in southeast Yemen because they believed they were practising witchcraft and sorcery, which are forbidden under Islam, a security official told AFP on Sunday.
The killings took place late on Saturday in the town of Shehr in Hadramawt province, the official said.
"Al-Qaeda gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Omar Abdelhafiz, killing him immediately," the official said.
Several hours later, two other extremists killed another Shehr resident, hairdresser Saeed al-Hadrami, the source added.
Jihadists had several times threatened both men, accusing them of "practising witchcraft and sorcery", the official said.
Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Al-Qaeda seized swathes of the south and east.
The militants imposed a strict version of Islamic law, executing or lashing those they accused of various crimes, including homosexuality and sorcery.
Those accused of theft had hands cut off.
The killings took place late on Saturday in the town of Shehr in Hadramawt province, the official said.
"Al-Qaeda gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on Omar Abdelhafiz, killing him immediately," the official said.
Several hours later, two other extremists killed another Shehr resident, hairdresser Saeed al-Hadrami, the source added.
Jihadists had several times threatened both men, accusing them of "practising witchcraft and sorcery", the official said.
Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Al-Qaeda seized swathes of the south and east.
The militants imposed a strict version of Islamic law, executing or lashing those they accused of various crimes, including homosexuality and sorcery.
Those accused of theft had hands cut off.
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