Iraq has begun excavating the Al-Khasfa Pit, the largest mass grave containing ISIS victims. Governor Abdul Qadir Al-Dakhil announced the initiative, emphasizing the need for identification of remains and adhering to legal processes. Despite funding challenges, the project aims for swift action, with oversight from various organizations and plans to address other mass graves in the area.
In Iraq’s Nineveh province, authorities have initiated the excavation of the Al-Khasfa Pit, recognized as the largest mass grave in the country and possibly the world, which contains the remains of thousands of ISIS victims. Governor Abdul Qadir Al-Dakhil emphasized the importance of exhuming the remains and identifying the deceased during a press briefing at the site located south of Mosul.
Al-Dakhil elaborated that the excavation plan is being conducted in collaboration with the Nineveh Court of Appeal, ensuring adherence to legal protocols. Despite facing financial challenges within Iraq’s Martyrs’ Foundation, the governor assured that the province would assume full financial responsibility for the project, projecting a timeline of up to one year for completion, while stressing the need for immediate action.
The governor highlighted that the initiative would be compatible with oversight from local and international organizations, emphasizing the urgent need for providing families with closure. Al-Dakhil also mentioned that the excavation activities would expand to additional mass graves in Tal Afar and Sinjar.
Preliminary findings indicate that during the height of ISIS’s control from 2014 to 2017, as many as 2,000 individuals were executed daily at the Al-Khasfa site. Earlier this year, Iraqi authorities successfully retrieved the remains of several Nineveh residents who had been executed by ISIS militants in 2016.
The commencement of the excavation at Al-Khasfa Pit marks a critical step in addressing the tragic legacies of the ISIS conflict in Iraq. The initiative reflects a commitment to uncovering the truth and providing closure to victims’ families while also setting the stage for further investigations into other mass graves in the region. The coordinated efforts of local and international bodies underscore the seriousness of this endeavor as Iraq seeks to reconcile with its past.
Original Source: shafaq.com
