Latest news with #NechirvanSuleiman
Shafaq News
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq exhumes +65 mass graves of Yazidi victims in Sinjar
Shafaq News – Duhok Specialized forensic teams have exhumed 68 out of 162 known burial sites—both mass and individual—where ISIS committed massacres against Yazidi civilians across Sinjar district since 2014, according to the Investigation and Evidence-Gathering Authority in Duhok. Nechirvan Suleiman, head of the Authority, told Shafaq News that excavation efforts continue in partnership with local and international organizations to open the remaining graves and formally document evidence of the crimes. So far, the identities of 293 victims have been confirmed and buried in designated cemeteries in Sinjar, while the remains of over 450 individuals are still unidentified, he noted, adding that 'the fate of 2,883 Yazidis is still unknown.' Calling for increased technical and logistical support to accelerate the process and ensure accuracy, Suleiman pointed out that excavation teams are working under harsh conditions due to difficult terrain, weather challenges, and overlapping skeletal remains. Families of victims and the missing have renewed their calls to speed up excavation and uncover the fate of their loved ones who remain underground and unidentified. Soumaya Khalaf, a Yazidi woman whose father and two brothers were abducted, told Shafaq News that the remains of one relative were recovered and buried in the Kojo cemetery—designated for Yazidi victims of ISIS in Sinjar—while the others remain missing. Jalal Jassim, another relative, said his son and two brothers disappeared more than 11 years ago, and the family has received no information about their fate, despite repeated follow-ups with relevant authorities and submitting DNA samples. Yazidi lawmaker Mahma Khalil revealed earlier that more than 2,300 Yazidis remain missing, and 52 of 93 documented mass graves in Sinjar have yet to be opened. The Yazidi community, a Kurdish-speaking ethno-religious minority in Iraq, faced persecution by ISIS after the group seized Sinjar on August 3, 2014. Around 1,290 Yazidis were killed, and over 70 mass graves have since been uncovered. The community, numbering about 500,000 in Iraq, observes its New Year on April 17, which the Kurdistan Regional Government has designated a public holiday.
Shafaq News
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
UNITAD's exit: A 'major void' in justice for ISIS victims
Shafaq News/ The conclusion of the United Nations UNITAD mission, which investigated ISIS atrocities, has left a ''significant gap'' in efforts to hold perpetrators of genocide accountable, according to the Duhok based Evidence and Investigation Authority. The United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIS (UNITAD) was established in 2017 to collect evidence of ISIS's war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity in Iraq. Over the years, UNITAD made significant strides in uncovering mass graves, gathering witness testimonies, and compiling evidence to support prosecutions under international law. Nechirvan Suleiman, a legal expert with the authority, described the impact in an interview with Shafaq News, saying, 'The conclusion of UNITAD's mission, has left a major void in international efforts to address the genocide committed by the terrorist organization in Iraq and Syria.' Without UNITAD's support, local institutions reportedly face mounting challenges in pursuing justice for crimes that fall under international jurisdiction, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Suleiman explained that Iraq's domestic laws do not comprehensively address such offenses, saying, 'The absence of international coordination leaves local institutions struggling to prosecute perpetrators according to global standards.' "The void left by UNITAD has also hindered the excavation and investigation of mass graves, particularly in areas like Sinjar and the Nineveh Plain,' he added, referencing ISIS's atrocities, especially against the Yazidi community. In 2014, ISIS waged a brutal campaign of violence against the Yazidis, killing thousands of men, enslaving women and children, and displacing entire communities. According to the authority, 129 mass and individual graves have been discovered in the region, including 91 mass graves and 38 individual ones. 'Of these, 80 graves have been opened in coordination with UNITAD and relevant agencies in Baghdad,' Suleiman said. 'This work led to DNA testing, enabling the return of some remains to families. However, 39 graves remain unopened, requiring further efforts to bring closure to affected families.' Suleiman stressed the need for continued international and local collaboration to ensure justice for victims and to complete the painstaking task of excavating and documenting these mass graves. Deep frustration For hundreds of Yazidi families, the delays prolong an agonizing wait for answers. Many still hope to identify the remains of loved ones lost during ISIS's 2014 invasion of Sinjar. Khidr Qasim, who lost three family members during the invasion, shared his ongoing pain. 'Every time we hear about the opening of a new grave, we hope to finally identify our loved ones. But the slow progress only deepens our frustration,' he told Shafaq News. Hanaa Samo, who lost her parents and two siblings, echoed the sentiment. 'It has been over ten years, and we've been pleading with authorities to expedite the excavation and identification processes. It feels like no one hears us. All we want is to uncover the truth and find peace,' she said
