Strategic Iraqi city one year under the grip of IS 0
IS fighters in Mosul, Iraq.
In the Islamic State (IS) stronghold of Mosul, the extremist group works day and night to repair roads, renovate gardens and refurbish hotels.
There are no more kiosks encroaching on the sidewalks, no more tangled electrical wiring systems covering the rooftops.
However, underneath that beautiful appearance, IS carries out brutal punishments for those who do not comply with the many bans the group has imposed over the past year, since occupying Mosul on June 10 last year.
`In the past 30 years, I have never seen Mosul so clean and beautiful, with streets and markets so orderly,` said local resident Omar.
Disturbing civilian life
The lives of the people of Mosul have changed many things under the black flag of IS.
Ancient churches have now become places where ISIS sells war trophies or displays goods that can only be used by members of the group.
`Since IS took over the city, the group has applied harsh laws. The lightest punishment is whipping, applied for crimes such as smoking,` said a person named Zaid.
`If a man commits theft, his hand will be cut off. If a man commits adultery, he will be thrown down from a high building; if a woman commits adultery, she will be stoned to death. The punishment is carried out in public to intimidate civilians.`
`I know many people captured by IS. Some are my relatives. Some were killed, others were released. They told horrifying stories about IS crimes in prison,` he added.
When women go out, they must wear clothes that cover their entire body, including their face.
`I lost my job and had to drop out of school. Like everyone else, I don’t have my basic rights met,` said a man named Hisham.
Women in IS-controlled areas must cover themselves when going out.
People must pay a quarter of their income to IS to rebuild the city.
`IS has even replaced imams in mosques with supporters of the group. Many of us stopped going to mosques because we were asked to swear allegiance to IS. We hate it.`
Sowing the seeds of violence
IS is using increasingly sophisticated techniques to control city populations, such as creating `media points` to propagate the group’s message.
`My 12-year-old brother used to go to a school controlled by IS. At that time, we thought there was no other choice, at least he could still be educated, it was better than nothing,` said a resident named
`But one day I came home and saw my brother drawing an IS flag, singing one of the group’s most popular songs. I went crazy and started yelling at him. I grabbed the painting and tore it to pieces. My brother
`We immediately forced him to drop out of school, it was better for him not to go to school than to absorb the things IS is spreading,` he added.
IS is moving heavy weapons, including equipment it seized from Iraqi forces, and using anti-aircraft missiles in response to attacks from the US-led coalition and insurgents
According to Zaid, IS knows the Iraqi army will try to retake Mosul, so they are taking precautions.
`I’m worried about how government forces will retake the city,` Zaid said.
