Two graves found in Shingal containing dozens of Ezidi women, children

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Two mass graves containing the remains of dozens of Yezidis (Ezidis) killed by the Islamic State (IS) were found in Shingal town, west of Mosul, a local source told Kurdistan 24 on Saturday.

According to the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, authorities had discovered two mass graves containing the remains of 90 Ezidis, mostly women and children.

“A group of investigators arrived at the scene shortly after the discovery to begin DNA testing to identify the victims,” the source added.

Locals believe at least 80 of those in the graves were victims from the Sheikh Khadr complex and the rest from the Qabusi village, south of Shingal.

The source told Kurdistan 24 that most of the victims were shot in different parts of their bodies.

Following their emergence in 2014, IS invaded the Ezidi-populated Shingal and committed one of the most egregious massacres in recent history, killing and kidnapping thousands.

Peshmerga forces, backed by the US-led coalition, liberated the town from the extremist group the following year.

Mass graves containing the remains of the inhabitants of Shingal, whose owners were killed in cold blood by IS militants, are regularly discovered.

On Oct. 16, Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia Hashd al-Shaabi militias attacked Kurdish troops and took control of disputed areas between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, including Kirkuk and Shingal.

Earlier this month, another two separate graves containing the remains of at least 140 people were discovered in the Al-Jazira district of Shingal and the Qabusi village.

According to United Nations estimates, there are about 3,000 Ezidis who remain unaccounted for since the genocide.