Islamic State built prison cells inside an ordinary villa in Mosul as part of the group’s tactic of boosting the safety of its jails and security centers by concealing them among regular houses. Despite their outward appearance, the jails had the regular attributes of state-run detention centers where inmates have their documents and belongings taken away when they arrive, to be given back to them if and when they are released. “This is to keep the prisoners subdued,” said the Iraqi military intelligence officer showing the villa to journalists.



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