The United Nations says a Shi’ite militia that fought alongside the Iraqi military in Fallujah may have seized some 900 civilian men and boys and killed nearly 50.
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said on July 5 that the civilians were held last month during the battle to oust Islamic State (IS) militants from the Sunni city.
In a statement, Hussein said the fate of nearly 900 civilians from the village of Saqlawiya was still unknown.
"There is a list of the names of 643 missing men and boys, as well as of 49 others believed to have been summarily executed or tortured to death while in the initial custody of Kataaib Hizballah," he said.
"Tribal leaders believe there are around 200 more unaccounted for, whose names have not yet been collected," Hussein added.
He also said there were reports of maltreatment, including denial of food and water, beating, torture, and even the beheading of some detainees.
Fallujah, some 50 kilometers west of Baghdad, was recaptured from the IS group in late June.
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