It is a scene seared forever into the memory of an eyewitness: Masked men drag the bloodied body of a man across a public square, and tie it to a make-shift cross on a metal pole. Green string holds the body's arms outstretched across a wood plank as blood oozes from the gunshot wound to his head. Militiamen wrap the body's black "WhatsApp" shirt with a sign in red letters that reads in Arabic: "This man fought Muslims and detonated an IED here." The eyewitness -- a man we will call Abu Ibrahim -- does more than watch. He steps closer and snaps a picture with his cell phone; the children around him gawk at the horrific spectacle with quiet curiosity.
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An eyewitness and his pictures document a Syrian scene meant to send a message
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Bodies are strung up on crosses in the city of Raqqa
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An al Qaeda splinter group -- ISIS -- says it's a lesson for any who dare challenge it
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An effort is underway by local activists to try to push ISIS out of Raqqa
The crucifixion displays began in March, when @placeholder accused a shepherd of murder and theft, then shot him in the head and tied his lifeless body to a wooden cross.