Bombs for brides: IS dowries revealed in Libya

Bombs for brides: IS dowries revealed in Libya
Marriage contracts retrieved by pro-government forces from Sirte, IS's last bastion in Libya, reveal that dowries offered by the militants to their brides include machineguns and explosive belts.
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Dowries offered by IS militants to their brides include machineguns and explosive belts [AFP]

Islamic State group documents unearthed in Libya reveal that the militants offered their brides unusual dowries: machineguns, explosive belts and the offer to memorise parts of the Quran.

The marriage contracts, which belonged to the group's "Judicial and Complaints Department", were published on Facebook by pro-government forces battling the group.

The forces allied with the country's unity government discovered the archives as they searched buildings seized during their months-long battle to oust IS from its coastal bastion of Sirte.

In one example from 31 November 2015, Abu Mansour, a Tunisian born in 1977, married a Nigerian called Miriam, in the presence of Sudanese and Malian witnesses.

In contrast to Islamic norms, Abu Mansour did not pay a dowry but vowed to pay compensation in the event of his death or the marriage being dissolved - in the form of an explosive belt.

Fatima, from Nigeria, was promised a Kalashnikov assault rifle in case of divorce or if her husband, Malian Abu Said, died.

IS militants took over Sirte in June 2015 and imposed a reign of terror including executions in public squares.

They patrolled the streets in 4x4s to ensure that men were observing prayer times and women were not venturing out alone.

Forces allied with Libya's Government of National Accord launched an offensive on 12 May to retake the port city that was the hometown of late dictator Moammar Gaddafi.

They cornered the extremists in a small area in central Sirte but were slowed down by snipers and suicide bombings that have killed some 450 pro-government fighters.