Twelve Yazidi mass graves have been burned in the past two years, according to Iraq’s Martyrs Foundation Affairs Department and the Protection of Mass Graves in Shingal. The most recent fire was last week.
The United Nations is assisting Iraq to investigate the Islamic State (ISIS) genocide against the Yazidis and exhume the mass graves. About 5,000 Yazidis were killed when ISIS seized control of the Shingal area in 2014. According to Iraqi officials, 82 mass graves are still to be exhumed.
Last year, at least 10 mass graves were burned. The sites have also been damaged by heavy rains.
The graves are an open wound for a community trying to heal from genocide.
“These mass graves have been here for seven years. The people are unable to return home because of them. I am one of them,” said Shingal resident Amin Qasim. “Although my house is here, it is hard to return and see the graves near our houses. They should be exhumed.”
Translation and video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
