Iraq's Interior Ministry [6] has launched an investigation into human rights violations carried out against civilians by its special forces while fighting the Islamic State [7] in Mosul. The allegations were initially reported [8] by Ali Arkady, an Iraqi photographer with Der Spiegel [9] who accompanied the Interior Ministry's Emergency Response Division (ERD), a unit closely backed by the US-led coalition. During operations against IS, Arkady said he witnessed [10] the killing, torture and rape of suspects. Arkady's piece featured [11] photos of torture scenes that included people hanging from ceilings with their arms tied behind their backs. After days of such abuse, ERD commanders would execute the detainees with a technique Arkady says the unit's personnel learned from US instructors during military training. Brig. Gen Saad Maan, the Interior Ministry's spokesman, said "legal measures will be applied...against wrongdoers."
Note: Semi-official paramilitary forces [12] under command of the Interior Ministry have also been accused of grave rights violations in the battle for Mosul [13].
