ISIS Latest News Today 2015: Educated, Professional Women Targeted For Execution By ISIS

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has marked "educated, professional" women for execution, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has disclosed.

In a statement posted online, the U.N. office said it has received numerous reports of women who were executed by the Islamic militant group in Mosul and other areas controlled by the group.

"Educated, professional women, particularly women who had run as candidates in elections for public office seem to be particularly at risk. In just the first two weeks of the year, reports indicated that three female lawyers were executed," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. office.

The women were often put to death immediately following sentences passed by its shari'a courts, Shamdasani said.

Such tribunals were considered by the U.N. as "unlawful" and are said to impose "cruel and inhuman punishments against men, women and children."

"Those who are punished are accused of violating the group's extremist interpretations of Islamic shari'a law or for suspected disloyalty," said the spokesperson at a Geneva briefing.

Included in the victims of the court are other civilians suspected of violating the group's rules or supporting the Iraqi government.

According to the U.N. office, four doctors, who allegedly declined to treat ISIS fighters, were recently killed in central Mosul.

The group also executed 15 civilians from the Jumaili Sunni Arab tribe in the Iraqi province of Fallujah at the start of the month.

"They were apparently shot dead in front of a large crowd for their suspected cooperation with Iraqi Security Forces. In another incident, on 9 January, ISIS executed at least 14 men in a public square in Dour, north of Tikrit, for refusing to pledge allegiance to it," Shamdasani said.

The U.N. office also said that the ISIS posted online photos of two crucified men accused of being bandits. Photos of a woman accused of being an adulterer were also posted.