The barbaric Islamic State group has beheaded two women in Syria on accusations of “sorcery,” the first such execution of women in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

The incident occurred in the Deir Ezzor province and the monitor added that this was the first incident when women had been killed by the group in this heinous manner.

The Britain-based monitor said the executions took place on Monday and Sunday and involved two couples.

The women, along with their husbands, were executed after being accused of witchcraft and sorcery.

In the past, the Islamic State has stoned women to death for committing adultery, but this was the first time they had beheaded women.

According to the monitor, IS has executed more than 3,000 people in Syria in the year since it declared its Islamic caliphate in Syria and Iraq.