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The radical Al-Qaeda splinter group controlling a third of Iraq has ordered all girls and women in and around the northern city of Mosul to undergo female genital mutilation, the United Nations warned Thursday.

The commandment was reportedly issued by fighters with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, which has shocked humanitarian groups with other acts of violence in recent months including amputations for theft and crucifixions of Christians and rival rebel groups. Since taking power in much of the country in the last several months, ISIS has issued a series of restrictive rules including severe limits on women’s freedoms.

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“This is something very new for Iraq, particularly in this area, and is of grave concern and does need to be addressed,” Jacqueline Badcock, UN humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, told reporters in Geneva Thursday, according to Reuters.

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However, doubts have been raised on the veracity of the UN’s claims.