On November 11, 2015, Professor Abdullah Sultan al-Ubaidi, chairman of the physics department at the University of Mosul, was reportedly executed by members of ISIS in a public square in the city of Mosul. ISIS members had reportedly kidnapped Professor al-Ubaidi in August 2015, demanding that he help them build a biological weapon to be used against Iraqi forces.  After he refused over the course of some three months to assist them, ISIS fighters shot Professor al-Ubaidi in a public square in the city’s center.  

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the kidnapping and execution of a scholar in retaliation for his refusal to assist in the design of a biological weapon.  In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, such incidents have a chilling effect on academic freedom and institutional autonomy. State officials have a responsibility to ensure the security of higher education communities, to prevent future attacks, and to hold perpetrators of violent attacks accountable.
Sources
http://www.albawaba.com/news/daesh-executes-iraqi-professor-mosul-767254
http://english.irib.ir/news/world/west-asia/item/218484-isil-executes-mosul-university-physics-professor-for-not-designing-biological-weapon
http://basnews.com/index.php/ar/news/iraq/243107
http://www.ara.shafaaq.com/38722
http://www.albawaba.com/news/daesh-executes-iraqi-professor-mosul-767254