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Demands for Quick Release of Detained Civilians of Fallujah Residents | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Smoke raises behind an Islamic State flag after Iraqi security forces and Shiite fighters took control of Saadiya in Diyala province from Islamist State militants, November 24, 2014.


Demands for Quick Release of Detained Civilians of Fallujah Residents

by | Jul 25, 2016 | Middle East |

Demands for Quick Release of Detained Civilians of Fallujah Residents

Fallujah-Anbar Provincial Council announced that the return of families who left the recently liberated Fallujah is imminent. Residents will be provided identity cards that allow them to enter Fallujah, along with similar cards for vehicles.

Data of up to 90,000 Fallujah residents have been saved on computers.

The council revealed that most ISIS leaders and fighters escaped the city. Also, the chairman of Anbar’s provincial council, Sabah al-Karhout, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Security forces in Fallujah have started digging a 12 kilometers depth ditch around the city”. The aim of the ditch is to stop ISIS fighters from sneaking into the city again and to restrict the entrance to and exit from Fallujah to one crossing point, according to Al-Karhout.

He added that investigations are on-going with Fallujah men who were detained by ISIS before liberating the city.

The Iraqi security forces liberated Fallujah totally from ISIS with the air support of U.S.-led coalition in an operation on 17 June.

Moreover, security committee member at Anbar Provincial Council Raji’al-Isawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that “Responsible security bodies are urged to accelerate investigations with Fallujah residents’ detainees since up to 2,000 detainees have been in prison for two months now”.

Al-Isawi added that the only fault of these arrested is that they could not escape from ISIS until the security forces liberated the city.

“Some security officers responsible for detentions are blackmailing families and asking for money”, said Al-Isawi.

He added that the detainees from Fallujah, Saqlawiyah, Nassaf, Boalwan and Halabsah were released along with their families during clearing the city form ISIS.