Photos: A hug from the executioner, then two gay men are stoned to death

ISIS militants brutally stoned two gay men to death only seconds after they were photographed embracing and 'forgiving' them.

The shocking images were taken in ISIS-held territory in the province of Homs and show the two accused men being savagely executed by up to four jihadis.

Huge, bloodthirsty crowds are seen in the desert clearing where the group of executioners made a display of hugging the blindfolded couple and telling them they were forgiven of their 'sins', before pummeling them to death with hundreds of fist-sized rocks.

Images of the horrific murder emerged on social media two days ago and were hurriedly shared online by ISIS sympathisers who claim the photographs reveal the terrorists' compassionate side.

The sequence of four images begin by showing two blindfolded men standing side-by-side in  a desert clearing while a group of ISIS gather alongside the on motorbikes.

One of the two victims - who has curly hair, a thick beard and wears a black leather biker jacket - appears resigned to his fate as one of his soon-to-killers shoulders rests his hand of his should