ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A propaganda photo released by the Islamic State on Monday allegedly shows Mullah Shwan holding a dated sign that disproves recent social media reports of his death.
In the photo Shwan is shown with a placard that reads “Lies have short wings,” referring to the announcement by the Iraqi government that he had been killed along with nine other ISIS fighters. The date on the sign was Monday, June 29.
The Iraqi military had said earlier this month that airstrikes from the US-led coalition had taken out Shwan's group near Hawija, in Kirkuk province, while breaking their Ramadan fast.
Shwan, also known as Abu Harwon, was a well-known Kurdish cleric in Erbil prior to joining ISIS in November with his wife and children. His defection to the jihadist group shocked the religious community in the Kurdistan region's capital.
Since joining ISIS, Shwan has appeared in numerous propaganda videos. In one instance, he was shown purportedly taking part in the beheading of four apparently Shiite hostages belonging to the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units.
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