mass graves in Iraq

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File:Iraqi mass grave.jpg, July 15, 2005]]

Mass graves in Iraq are characterized as unmarked sites containing at least six bodies. Some can be identified by mounds of earth piled above the ground or as deep pits that appear to have been filled. Some older graves are more difficult to identify, having been covered by vegetation and debris over time. Sites have been discovered in all regions of the country and contain members of every major religious and ethnic group in Iraq as well as foreign nationals, including Kuwaitis and Saudis.{{Cite web|url=https://govinfo.library.unt.edu/cpa-iraq/human_rights/Mass_Graves.htm|title=Mass Graves of Iraq: Uncovering Atrocities|website=govinfo.library.unt.edu}}

Background

Several entities and groups have deployed mass graves to cover up the Extrajudicial killing of civilians, enemy combatants, and rival factions in various civil conflicts. Under the rule of Saddam Hussein, mass graves were used to bury Iranian soldiers who were killed on Iraqi territory. It was also used during the same time period on Kurds in the north of Iraq during the Anfal Campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_iraq-unearths-mass-graves-believed-contain-kurds-slain-1987-88/6172578.html|title=Iraq Unearths Mass Graves Believed to Contain Kurds Slain in 1987-88|date=July 25, 2019|website=Voice of America}} It was then widely used to bury civilians, protesters, defectors, and armed resistance groups that participated in the 1991 Iraqi uprisings{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/13/iraqis-haunted-by-disappearances-after-saddam-hussein-fall|title=Iraqis still haunted by Saddam-era disappearances after his fall|website=Al Jazeera}}

In the span of 21 years of searching, 3115 bodies from the 1991 Iraqi uprisings have been found in total and 605-755 bodies from the Anfal campaign have been found in total.

Mass graves continued to be used following the fall of the regime in 2003. They were used by various factions that committed mass murder during the Iraqi Civil War{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/12/19/iraq.torture.complex/index.html?iref=nextin|title=Torture house, mass graves discovered in Iraq - CNN.com|website=www.cnn.com}} They were then used by ISIS as they massacred civilians during the time where they controlled Iraqi territory. It is estimated that 200 mass graves are in the city of Mosul alone due to the group's actions.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/story/28644-From-Saddam-to-IS:-Iraq-still-exhuming-mass-graves|title=From Saddam to IS: Iraq still exhuming mass graves}}

List of Mass graves unearthed in Iraq

Following the fall of the Baath regime, efforts were made by both Iraqi authorities and international organizations to uncover mass graves in Iraq.{{Cite web|url=https://icmp.int/press-releases/icmp-supports-iraqi-authorities-in-uncovering-mass-grave-near-badoush-prison-linked-to-2014-daesh-crimes/|title=ICMP supports Iraqi authorities in uncovering mass grave near Badoush Prison linked to 2014 Da'esh crimes|date=March 19, 2020}} Several US Senate committee investigations have been held to examine this topic.[http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/hussein.html Saddam Hussein killer file] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207020446/http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/hussein.html |date=2007-02-07 }}

Remains Found	Location	Year found	Timeframe which grave was dug	Notes
class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of Saddam-era Mass graves in Iraq
113	Samawah	2005	1980-1988	Victims were kurds most of whom were women, children and teenagers{{cite news\| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/04/29/AR2005042901191.html \| newspaper=The Washington Post \| title=113 Kurds Are Found In Mass Grave \| first=Ellen \| last=Knickmeyer \| date=2005-04-30 \| accessdate=2010-05-12}}
492	Al Diwaniyah	2011	1988	Victims were kurds, likely part of the Anfal campaign{{Cite web\|url=https://www.alalam.ir/news/629061/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%AB%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82\|title=العثور على مقبرة جماعية جنوبي العراق - قناة العالم الاخبارية}}
3,115	Al-Mahawil	2003	1991	A collection of three mass graves in the southern part of Iraq. This happened during the 1991 uprising where most of the victims were likely Shia'a Muslims.{{Cite journal\|url=https://www.hrw.org/report/2003/05/28/mass-graves-al-mahawil/truth-uncovered\|title=The Mass Graves of al-Mahawil\|date=May 28, 2003\|journal=Human Rights Watch}}
150+	Samawah	2024	??	Victims were identified as women and children wearing Kurdish style clothing.{{cite web \|title=Mass grave containing dozens of Kurds unearthed in southern Iraq \|url=https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/221220241 \|access-date=22 December 2024}}

Remains Found	Location	Year found	Timeframe which grave was dug	Notes
class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of Post-Saddam Mass graves in Iraq
22	Karbala	2008	2007	Victims were Shepherds who were reported missing in 2007{{Cite web\|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/economy/iraq-finds-22-bodies-dumped-in-mass-grave-idUSKAM542092/\|title=Iraq finds 22 bodies dumped in mass grave\|date=October 15, 2008\|website=Reuters}}
10	Al-Mahawil	2019	2014	The remains of ten people who were abducted and murdered in 2015. The identity of the victims has never been published.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.nbanews.net/arabiciraq/35465\|title=العثور على مقبرة جماعية في المحاويل شمال بابل\|website=nbanews.net}}
12	Fallujah	2007	2006	Most of the victims have no IDs, but officials have said they were likely abducted and murdered by insurgents, one was a paramedic.{{Cite web\|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22086524\|title=12 bodies add to toll near lake in Anbar\|date=December 3, 2007\|website=NBC News}}

Popular culture

The 2014 film The Blue Man,{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3261304/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1|title = The Blue Man (2014) - IMDb|website = IMDb}} which is related to The New York Times article titled "Uncovering Iraq's Horrors in Desert Graves"{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/05/world/middleeast/05grave.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|work=The New York Times|first=John F.|last=Burns|date=June 6, 2006|title=Uncovering Iraq's Horrors in Desert Graves}} written by John F. Burns, is about The Blue Man mass grave located in Al-Mahawil.

References

External links

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3026821.stm In Saddam's killing fields], BBC News, 14 May 2003
[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/27000.htm Mass Graves of Iraq: Uncovering Atrocities], United States Department of State, December 19, 2003
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3738368.stm Babies found in Iraqi mass grave], BBC News, 13 October 2004
[https://www.hrw.org/campaigns/iraq/graves/slideshow_as2/slideshow_as2.html Iraq: State of the Evidence - Photographs: Mass Graves and Documentary Evidence of Crimes from Saddam Hussein's Regime], Human Rights Watch
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080804080115/http://www.usaid.gov/iraq/legacyofterror.html Iraq's Legacy of Terror: Mass Graves], USAID
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090517100450/http://www.mimetic.com/gallery.php?ProjectID=53&groupid=2 Mass Graves: Iraq]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070413073819/http://www.9neesan.com/massgraves/ Pictures of mass graves being exhumed in Iraq]
[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/27000.htm Fact Sheet - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and Bureau of Public Affairs]

Category:1979 establishments in Iraq

Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1979

Category:2003 archaeological discoveries

Category:Burials in Iraq

Category:Cemeteries in Iraq

Category:Human rights abuses in Iraq

Iraq

Category:Massacres in Iraq

Category:Modern history of Iraq

Category:Persecution of Kurds in Iraq

Category:Shia Islam in Iraq

Category:Racism in Iraq