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A court in Iraq has sentenced 27 Isis soldiers to death by hanging over their role in a massacre of up to 1,700 army recruits in 2014.

One of Isis earliest gruesome propaganda videos was of the execution-style killings at Camp Speicher in northern Iraq when the organisation launched its surprise offensive over the border from Syria in June that year.

There were between 4,000 and11,000 cadets stationed at the base near Tikrit when Isis overran it. Isis divided up their captives depending on whether they were Shia, Sunni or non-Muslim, and murdered an estimated 1,095 non-Sunni soldiers, a later inquiry by Iraqs Human Rights Ministry estimated.The true number of men still missing is not known, but estimatessuggestit could beup to 1,700 people.

Mosul after the war: Utter and total devastation

The victims were trucked to various locations, including a former palace of SaddamHussein, lined up and shot at point black range, beheaded, or choked to death.

Some bodies were disposed of in the Tigris River, and at least 12mass graves were discovered when Iraqi coalition forces managed to retake the city and surrounding area in 2015.

As well as this weeks sentencing, 36 Isis members were hanged in August 2016 after being found guilty of the same crime in a mass trial. Another 25 suspects have been released due to a lack of evidence.

The sentenced men have the right to appeal the courts decision.

The death sentences come as rights groups have expressed concern over possible abuses of men accused of being in Isis following the recapture of the city of Mosul, which effectively means the end of Isis rule in the country.

More than 5,000 men suspectedof fighting on behalf of the militants are thought to be currentlyheld in overcrowded and stiflingly hot conditions in local prisons.

Prisoners are infected with diseases, lots of health and skin problems, because theyre not exposed to the sun, one prison warden told the AP last month, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The majority cant walk. Their legs are swollen because they cant move.

For many Iraqi soldiers and civilians, there is very little sympathy for those accused of fighting with Isis.

But detainees protest their innocence and organisations such as Human Rights Watch have repeatedly accused Iraqi forces of unlawful interrogations, beatings and even executions of men and boys believed to be part of Isisthatcould amount to war crimes.

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Iraq to hang 27 Isis members over role in massacre of army recruits at Camp Speicher - The Independent