UNITAD begins unearthing 7 mass graves in Sinjar 

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The UN Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh, ISIS (UNITAD) began unearthing seven mass graves in the Yezidi-majority town of Sinjar on Tuesday.

The process began in the presence of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Iraqi federal authorities and religious leaders in Hardan village in northeastern Sinjar.

There are believed to be 70 Yezidi corpses among the mass graves, a Yezidi official told Kurdistan 24 on Tuesday.

The graves are located in Hardan Intersection, connecting the village with other rural Yezidi areas.

Dr. Dindar Zebari, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Coordinator for International Advocacy, also delivered a speech during the exhumation on behalf of Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.

“Federal government officials, provincial and UN representatives were present,” he tweeted afterward. “KRG strives to redress the agonies of Yezidis by holding ISIS accountable under international law.”

I delivered a speech on behalf of HE @masrour_barzani in a ceremony of exhuming 70 graves of Yezidis. Federal government officials, provincial and UN representatives were present. KRG strives to redress the agonies of Yezidis by holding ISIS accountable under international law. pic.twitter.com/myPyN3UGQt

— Dr. Dindar Zebari (@KRG_Coordinator) February 22, 2022

Mass graves in Kocho village are also being unearthed. ISIS massacred villagers there during the Yezidi Genocide that it launched in August 2014.

Once the remains of the dead are unearthed, they will be transported to Baghdad, where the identities of those victims will be determined by DNA testing.

Thousands of Yezidis were killed and tens of thousands sexually enslaved by ISIS militants. The UN recognized the atrocity as genocide.

The UNITAD has been mandated to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by the terror group in Iraq.