(AhlulBayt News Agency) - The Iraqi city of Mosul has celebrated liberation – by holding its first wedding since being liberated from ISIS .
Dissident group Mosul Eye uploaded of pictures of the wedding party to Twitter and said: “The wedding of freedom ... First wedding in Mosul after liberation Congratulations 2 the newly weds their wedding & their freedom.”
The group also shared pictures of shops and restaurants open for business at last without the threat of ISIS hanging over traders and customers.
Some shops had simply closed during the regime’s occupation to avoid huge taxes imposed by ISIS warlords.
The activist group encouraged locals in the freed Western half of the city to take to the High Street, saying: “Signs of life revival in Mosul after liberation .. Fresh goods and markets start to thrive back to normal life.”
“Another sign of Life revival in Mosul .. your favorite restaurants r back!”
“Al-Noor Market is open again, Life is back in Mosul, Come on Mosulis! ... Go And Get Your Stuff, it is shopping time.”
Other snaps showed the streets being cleaned with Mosul Eye revealing: “Nothing is better than loving ur city & make it look clean .. this man’s love reflects in removing the ruins of war.
“Despite the ruins .. Freedom is tasted, smelled, feeled, and breathed all over Mosul Long Last Mosul Free.”
But as Iraqi forces battle ISIS strongholds still dug into Eastern parts of Mosul, residents there are struggling to eat and are surviving on just one boiled potato a day.
And ISIS militants are using terrified families as human shields as they mount a desperate defense of the last parts of the city.
Iraqi forces are now preparing to cross the Tigris river to push the terror group out of Mosul completely.
Mosul Eye warned conditions in several neigbourhoods were desperate for the local people.
Activists said on Twitter: “ISIS forced people to use their house rooftops to station weaponry and anti aircraft guns.”
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