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'IS' frees abducted Iraqi civilians

January 4, 2015

Iraqi officials say jihadists from the "Islamic State" group have freed most of the civilians they abducted on Friday on suspicion of burning the group's flag. Eight remain in the hands of the militants.

https://p.dw.com/p/1EElN
Islamic State militants shown in a propaganda picture. Photo via ABACAPRESS.COM
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/Yaghobzadeh Rafael

"Islamic State" (IS) militants have released 162 of the 170 civilians they abducted on Friday on suspicion of burning the IS flag, officials in northern Iraq said on Sunday.

They said the militants released the youths and men after interrogating them about the incident, which allegedly took place in the villages of al-Shajra and Gharib in Kirkuk province.

One of those freed said that he and the other men had been taken to an open area for interrogation, then held overnight in houses before being released on Saturday. He confirmed that all but eight men had been set free.

IS has carried out a number of mass abductions in Iraq and Syria in the areas it controls in both countries, sometimes executing its captives. The group took over large areas of northern and western Iraq during a lightning offensive in the summer, and has imposed its own strict version of Islamic law there.

More propaganda

The release came shortly after IS issued a new propaganda video showing John Cantlie, a photojournalist abducted in Syria in November 2012. In the video, Cantlie is filmed in the jihadist-held city of Mosul, denouncing Western media reports that the city is suffering shortages, price rises and power cuts.

He has already featured in previous propaganda films published by the group.

Five Western hostages reportedly held by IS alongside Cantlie have been beheaded by their captors, who released videos of the killings online.

tj/ksb (AFP, dpa)