In an article entitled “the revival of slavery”, published on behalf of “an official Islamic State spokesman”, the group appears to defend its enslavement of women.

It suggests enslaving families and “taking their women” is firmly established in the Koran, and suggestion otherwise would be anti-Islam and “mocking” towards the prophet.

The article threatens enemies that followers of IS will “enslave your women, by the permission of Allah, the Exalted”, and details conquests in which “women and children were divided according to the Shari’ah among the fighters of the Islamic State”.

It goes on to highlight the disadvantages of abandoning slavery.

“The desertion of slavery have let to an increase in fahishah (adultery, fornication, etc.),” it says.

“This again is from the consequences of abandoning jihad.”

The disturbing messaging comes as humanitarian organisation Human Rights Watch has published a shocking report on Islamic State’s treatment of women and girls.

“The Islamic State’s litany of horrific crimes against the Yezidis in Iraq only keeps growing,” said Fred Abrahams, special adviser at Human Rights Watch.

“At this point of the crusade against the Islamic State, it is very important that attacks take place in every country that has entered into the alliance against the Islamic State, especially the US, UK, France, Australia and Germany,” it states.

“The citizens of crusader nations should be targeted wherever they can be found.”