By Stephen Sorace | Fox News

The Washington Post published a gasp-inducing headline for the ages Sunday, describing ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as an "austere religious scholar."

The obituary, written by The Post’s National Security reporter Joby Warrick, followed confirmation of al-Baghdadi's death in a U.S. military operation in Syria on Saturday night. It detailed al-Baghdadi’s rise to the terrorist group's shadow leader from what the paper described as his origins as a "religious scholar with wireframe glasses."

The headline read: "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, austere religious scholar at helm of Islamic State, dies at 48."



The story first appeared to run under a headline that referred to al-Baghdadi as the "Islamic State's 'terrorist-in-chief.'" It was unclear why or who decided to change the "terrorist" label to "austere religious scholar."

The Post then changed the headline again, settling on "extremist leader of Islamic State."

Washington Post Vice President of Communications Kristine Coratti Kelly told Fox News, "Regarding our al-Baghdadi obituary, the headline should never have read that way and we changed it quickly."

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham tweeted that she had "no words" regarding The Post headline. Former Press Secretary Sean Spicer also responded, writing:

"Stop, read this & think about it: last night a ruthless, brutal terrorist who threatened our country & is responsible for the death of American citizens was killed in a successful operation by US military & @washingtonpost described #Albagdadi as an 'austere religious scholar.'"

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"@washingtonpost⁩ trying desperately to hold on to #ISIS on-line subscribers," Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said.

Social media users mocked the paper by writing death notices for other historic figures who committed crimes and atrocities.

"#WaPoDeathNotices Genghis Khan, accomplished horseman and indefatigable traveler, breathes his last," Bard College professor and Wall Street Journal columnist Walter Russel Mead wrote.

"Adolf Hitler, passionate community planner and dynamic public speaker, dies at 56.#WaPoDeathNotices," wrote Jason Howerton.



Under Al-Baghdadi’s leadership, ISIS carried out a slew of barbaric atrocities, including the enslavement and rape of thousands of women from Iraq's Yazidi minority. They massacred captives and threw individuals believed to be gay from the rooftops of buildings.

Journalists and aid workers were beheaded, including Americans, in videos and photos the terror group broadcast with delight.



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President Trump announced the death of al-Baghdadi Sunday morning, describing him as dying “in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying.”

Al-Baghdadi had retreated to a dead-end tunnel, taking three children with him, and detonated a suicide vest. He along with the children were killed in the blast.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/washington...y-headline-isis