Daesh 'sanctions organ harvesting'

(MENAFN- Arab News) WASHINGTON: Daesh has sanctioned the harvesting of human organs in a previously undisclosed ruling by the group's scholars raising concerns that the violent extremist group may be trafficking in body parts.
The ruling contained in a Jan. 31 2015 document reviewed by Reuters says taking organs from a living captive to save a Muslim's life even if it is fatal for the captive is permissible.
Reuters couldn't independently confirm the authenticity of the document. US officials say it was among a trove of data and other information obtained by US special forces in a raid in eastern Syria in May.
'The apostate's life and organs don't have to be respected and may be taken with impunity' says the document which is in the form of a fatwa from Daesh's Research and Fatwa Committee.
'Organs that end the captive's life if removed: The removal of that type is also not prohibited' Fatwa Number 68 says according to a US government translation.
The document does not offer any proof that Daesh actually engages in organ harvesting or organ trafficking.
Previously Iraq has accused Daesh of harvesting human organs and trafficking them for profit.
The document does not define 'apostate' though the Islamic State has killed or imprisoned non-Muslims such as Christians and Shiites as well as Sunnis who don't follow its extremist views.