Islamic State executing opponents in Mosul as battle begins

October 19, 2016

As Iraqi forces advance in their bid to recapture Mosul, militants of the Islamic State are executing civilians there who show support for the liberators.

Some residents of Mosul have begun painting the Arabic letter “M” on their houses, as a sign that they have resisted the rule of the Islamic State. Before retreating in the face of the armed offensive, Islamic State forces have killed residents found with the “M” on their homes.

In a related development, the secretary-general of Caritas International, the consortium of Catholic charitable agencies, warned that the battle for Mosul would cause heavy civilian casualties. Michel Roy charged that foreign powers have encouraged the fighting for reasons of their own national interest, without regard to the suffering of the Iraqi people.

“What the US wants in the Middle East, what Russia wants in the Middle East is not for the good of the Middle Eastern people, it’s for their own interests and that has to stop,” Roy said.

 

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Further information:

• Anti-Isis Iraqis marked and executed in Mosul (AsiaNews)
• Caritas warns of heavy civilian casualties in Mosul conflict (Vatican Radio)