Mass Grave Excavated in Sinjar Amid Ongoing Efforts to Identify ISIS Victims
A newly excavated mass grave in Sinjar (Shangal) has revealed the remains of 15 to 20 individuals, according to an official statement.
Feb. 5, 2025
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A newly excavated mass grave in Sinjar (Shangal) revealed the remains of 15 to 20 individuals, according to an official statement. The site adds to the growing list of mass graves uncovered in the region, a grim testament to the atrocities committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) during its occupation of northern Iraq.
A member of the Iraqi Department of Mass Graves Affairs confirmed to Kurdistan 24 on Wednesday that excavation efforts are expected to take approximately a week. "It will take a week for the teams to finalize taking the bodies' remains out of the mass grave site," the official stated. Once exhumed, the remains will be transferred to Baghdad, where DNA testing will be conducted to establish their identities.
Sinjar’s Mass Graves: A Continuing Tragedy
Since the liberation of Sinjar from ISIS control, authorities have identified 93 mass graves in the predominantly Yezidi-populated town. However, only 53 of these graves have been excavated to date.
The slow progress underscores the challenges faced by forensic teams and the ongoing efforts to provide closure to the families of the victims.
ISIS committed mass executions against the Yezidi community following its 2014 invasion of Sinjar, carrying out acts of genocide recognized by the United Nations and other international bodies.
Thousands of Yezidis were massacred, while many women and children were subjected to enslavement and other brutal crimes. The discovery of additional mass graves serves as a chilling reminder of the group’s systematic targeting of minorities in Iraq.
The Yezidi Genocide and the Search for Justice
The Yezidi genocide, perpetrated by ISIS, led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people and the destruction of Sinjar’s infrastructure. In the years following the defeat of ISIS, international and Iraqi forensic teams have worked to document the crimes, gather evidence for war crimes tribunals, and identify the victims through DNA analysis.
Despite significant efforts, many families still await news about missing loved ones, with large numbers of victims yet to be exhumed and identified.
The Iraqi federal government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in cooperation with international organizations, continue to work toward justice for the Yezidi community by prosecuting ISIS militants and preserving evidence of war crimes.
The latest mass grave discovery in Sinjar is a stark reminder of the region’s tragic past and the long road ahead for truth and reconciliation.