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ISIS terrorists have posed as pious veil-clad women to move around the Iraqi city freely and carry out bloody attacks. But the Iraqi army has temporarily banned the Islamic veil in eastern Mosul as part of a package of measures to curb jihadist attacks in the area. The niqab is a veil for the face that leaves the area around the eyes clear and is worn with a headscarf.

“We have banned women from wearing the niqab because ISIS soldiers have been dressing up as veil-clad women Police chief Talal Abdallah

ISIS invaded Mosul in 2014 and turned it into their de facto capital in Iraq, imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law on locals and forcing women of all ages to wear the niqab, a conservative black face veil, when out in public. Iraqi forces liberated parts of Mosul in January and issued the ban after detaining several ISIS fighters disguised as niqab-clad women. The ousted terrorists have been using the garment to carry out suicide attacks and hit-and-run attacks on army checkpoints in the city.

GETTY The Iraqi army has banned the niqab in Mosul to stop ISIS jihadists using them as 'disguise'

Police chief Talal Abdallah said: “We have banned women from wearing the niqab because ISIS soldiers have been dressing up as veil-clad women to walk around Mosul freely and avoid police detection." After years of living under ISIS rule, Mosul locals have welcomed the ban. Abu Messab, a 50-year-old Mosul local who sells clothes at a shop inside Nabi Yunis market said: “Nobody wants to buy a niqab."

GETTY

GETTY ISIS jihadists have been hiding their faces behind the veil to walk freely around Mosul

“We’ve stopped stocking the face veil. Mosul women now want brightly coloured headscarves… We’re back to pre-ISIS times. “Police are here the whole time. When they see women with their face covered, they ask them politely to no longer wear the veil. And people cooperate." Umm Ali, 45, said: “Under ISIS rule, women never dared come to the market without a face veil, gloves and black socks. “I saw the world from behind a black veil. The world seemed like a dark place. But as soon as they (ISIS) left, I threw my niqab away."

Chilling photographs from inside Mosul Wed, June 21, 2017 Iraqi forces battle to retake the last enclaves held by Islamic State militants Play slideshow REUTERS 1 of 12 An Iraqi special forces soldier checks men for explosive belts as they cross from Islamic State controlled part of Mosul to Iraqi forces controlled part of Mosul

GETTY Iraq has reclaimed several parts of Mosul from ISIS hands