Under the cover of night in the Iraqi city of Mosul, Rayan and Ali break the silence by drumming to announce suhur, the pre-dawn breakfast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Islamic State (IS) group which controlled the city for three years before its ouster last July had banned drumming, along with other Ramadan traditions that make up the festive spirit of the dawn to dusk fasting month.

But since this year’s Ramadan started in mid-May, Rayan Khalidi and Ali Mahboub have been doing their night time rounds, donning traditional keffiyeh headscarves and jalabiya robes.