Claiming it contravenes Sharia law, Islamic State (IS) has banned female doctors treating male patients and vice versa.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) official from Mosul, Ghayas Surchi, explained the recent decree to BasNews.

“On Tuesday, IS declared a ban on doctors treating the opposite sex,” said Surchi.

The decision also applies to surgery, potentially putting lives at risk.

“IS believes that men and women seeing bodies of the opposite sex, even in a medical setting, is a violation of Sharia law,” he added.