Iraqi commander denies 'claims of abuse' in Mosul
Iraqi commander denies 'claims of abuse' in Mosul
Unaware that the foreign reporters' team included an Arab, army officers accompanying journalists spoke freely in Arabic, revealing incidents of abuse by Iraqi forces against civilians during the campaign.
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Displaced Iraqis queue up to receive food aid packages in western Mosul [Getty]
An Iraqi commander says allegations that an elite interior ministry unit fighting the Islamic State (IS) group in Mosul abused civilian detainees are “incorrect.”
Abdul Amir al-Mohamadawi, spokesman for the Emergency Response Division, said on Thursday that his unit released two videos of interviews with civilians allegedly tortured in which they refute reports conducted by numerous media outlets.
A team of seven foreign reporters accompanying Iraqi forces reported on the liberated areas of Mosul and conduct interviews with soldiers and locals.
The New Arab correspondent was the only one who spoke Arabic, which gave him access to exclusive and sensitive information.
Read more: Iraq forces involved in alleged abuse of Mosul civilians
Unaware that the foreign reporters' team included an Arab, Colonel Abdel Karim Al-Mohamadawi and the army officers accompanying them spoke freely in Arabic, revealing incidents of abuse by Iraqi forces against civilians during the military campaign to oust IS militants from Mosul.
After the information was released, the Emergency Response Division to dismissed the reports, despite soldiers themselves admitting to the abuses.
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