Iraqi Army forces entered the Zayn Al-Abidin mosque in Tarmiyah and detained its leader overseeing the illegal religious court Sept. 8, while U.S. forces provided support. Sources and local civilians reported that the mosqueÂ’s leader had acted as a judge for the Sharia Court in Tarmiyah.
Al Qaeda operatives often establish a Sharia court to “try” individuals for violations of the Wahabist law, an extreme interpretation of the Qur’an.
Detainees are often bound and tortured for several days while awaiting this “trial”, ultimately found guilty and then murdered.
Sharia courts are a practice in rural areas where Al Qaeda operates unchallenged and is used under the guise of their own rule of law.
During a search of the mosque, Coalition forces discovered a box of letters that appeared to be addressed to the Islamic State of Iraq, an Al Qaeda pseudonym, describing what individuals could do for money.
Coalition forces determined the illegal judge posed an imminent threat to the population of Tarmiyah, and he was detained for further questioning.