ADVERTISEMENT

Mosul women desperate for news of 'disappeared'

Dressed in black, with children in tow and brandishing photos, some fear their men have fallen victim to a cruel double jeopardy.

They had been imprisoned by or forced to work for IS, only for Iraqi forces to suspect them of collaborating voluntarily with the jihadists -- and lock them up.

That is what some mothers and wives fear, faced with official silence.

"Instead of being free today and compensated, they are being kept behind bars," said 80-year-old Umm Abdullah, tormented by her son's disappearance.

ADVERTISEMENT

She fears her child will be falsely accused, 12 months since Iraqi forces expelled IS.

When the jihadists seized Mosul in 2014 after a lightning offensive, men working in the security forces or in other state jobs who did not run away were left with nowhere to hide.

Seen as representatives of an "apostate" state, many of them were forced to publicly repent and swear allegiance to IS.

The women of Al-Minassa resemble the Mothers of the 'Plaza de Mayo' who relentlessly pursued justice for sons who vanished under Argentina's 1976 to 1983 junta.

'Sure they are detained'

ADVERTISEMENT

Standing on the steps of the square, 38-year-old housewife Shaima believes she knows what happened to her policeman husband.

Shaima, 38, said jihadists raided the family home and abducted her husband on November 25, 2016, a fate that befell many of his colleagues.

When Iraqi troops battled to retake the city, "he was used with other prisoners as human shields", she said.

Soldiers then arrested him "because he didn't have identity papers and had grown a thick beard during his detention by IS", said the mother of six, fighting back tears.

When outgoing prime minister Haider al-Abadi visited Mosul in March, the women tried to approach him and ask about their men, but bodyguards pushed them back.

ADVERTISEMENT

Security officials told AFP the families of all those arrested in Mosul have been informed.

But Shaima said she has had no official word and resorted to other channels. She had "received information... he is detained" at Baghdad's Al-Muthana airport, along with suspected terrorists.

Abu Luay, a 56-year-old unemployed man, spends his time looking for his two sons, snatched from their home by IS fighters on October 4, 2016.

The sons, Luay and Qusay, have never reappeared.

After several months of investigating, "we're sure they're detained by security forces, but we don't know why", Abu Luay said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thrown In 'Abyss'

Not all those who had been held by IS survived the brutality of its rule.

"Many of the disappeared were executed by IS and their bodies thrown in the 'Khafsa'," said human rights activist Sami Faisal, referring to an area that translates from Arabic as the "abyss".

The site, a sinkhole that folklore says was left by a meteor, could be one of the biggest mass graves in Iraq, as it was an IS execution ground.

Collating testimony from families, Faisal said he has compiled 1,820 names of men and women who have disappeared.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many on the list were soldiers, civil servants, journalists and activists from Mosul and the surrounding area.

A separate list of missing Yazidis comprises 3,111 names, although the number fluctuates as members of the minority re-emerge alive after having years enslaved by IS.

Deciding when a person can be declared dead is an issue which the authorities are tackling.

The Iraqi judiciary has ruled "two years without news of a person who has disappeared in a context of terrorism sufficient to officially pronounce their death".

Mosul's mayor, Zoheir al-Araji, said the justice ministry registers complaints by relatives of the disappeared.

ADVERTISEMENT

The cases go "to the government and security authorities to investigate their fate", he said. "But so far without results."

Bereft of her two sons, Umm Luay tries to take some solace from photos and memories.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Tinubu awards slain soldiers MON; scholarships for children, houses for families

Tinubu awards slain soldiers MON; scholarships for children, houses for families

BREAKING: No plan to crash petrol, diesel prices - NNPC debunks rumour

BREAKING: No plan to crash petrol, diesel prices - NNPC debunks rumour

Traditionalists want traditional religious knowledge to be taught in schools

Traditionalists want traditional religious knowledge to be taught in schools

NUT calls for State Govts to oversee basic education, removes LG involvement

NUT calls for State Govts to oversee basic education, removes LG involvement

JUST IN: FG declares Friday, Monday Easter public holidays

JUST IN: FG declares Friday, Monday Easter public holidays

17 soldiers killed in Okuama community laid to rest at Abuja cemetery

17 soldiers killed in Okuama community laid to rest at Abuja cemetery

Benue's Governor Alia denies calling for APC chairman Ganduje's resignation

Benue's Governor Alia denies calling for APC chairman Ganduje's resignation

APC leaders in southeast hail Uzodimma’s appointment as party’s coordinator

APC leaders in southeast hail Uzodimma’s appointment as party’s coordinator

Tinubu congratulates Faye, praises Sall for peaceful, transparent election

Tinubu congratulates Faye, praises Sall for peaceful, transparent election

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT