In the battle for Fallujah, allegations of human rights violations are hitting both sides

As Iraqi security forces tighten their grip on the outskirts of militant-held Fallujah allegations of human rights violations are surfacing on both sides of the operation.

On Monday, hundreds of civilians, many bearing marks of torture were released north of Fallujah after being detained by a group of government-sanctioned mostly Shiite militias. Five of those detained died while in the group’s custody according to Yahya al-Muhamadi, an Anbar council member working with displaced civilians.

The militia forces, known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, are one of a number of different Iraqi security forces participating in the operation to retake Fallujah from the Islamic State group that has controlled it for more than two years.

The Popular Mobilisation Forces deny that their fighters detain civilians.

“We are not authorised to detain anyone, we are just helping to move displaced people,” said Hayder Mayahii, an official with the PMF’s media office based outside Fallujah. Mayahii said his office was aware of the reports, but said they were completely false and the product of media bias.

The Popular Mobilisation Forces illegally detained 605 people, al-Muhamadi the Anbar councilman said. “They tortured many of them, five people died from the torture.”