Authorities Begins Exhumation of Seven Mass Graves in Anbar on National Day of Mass Graves

INA

Exhumation of the mass graves process in Anbar.

The Iraqi Martyrs Foundation has announced the start of operations to exhume seven mass graves in Anbar province dating back to the era of the former regime in the 1980s, coinciding with the annual commemoration of the National Day of Mass Graves on 16 May.

Dhia Karim, Dhia Karim, Director General of the Department of Mass Graves Affairs and Protection at the Martyrs Foundation, told Iraq's state media (INA) that the Martyrs Foundation has made it a tradition to mark the National Day of Mass Graves at the site of an actual crime scene or historical event.

He said that, in cooperation with relevant institutions, teams had begun work on excavating seven mass graves in Anbar linked to crimes committed during the 1980s.

Karim added that all seven graves had been prepared for the exhumation process, after which the remains would be transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine for laboratory examinations and DNA analysis aimed at identifying the victims.

He explained that the work extends beyond excavation and includes the analysis of aerial photographs and field surveys conducted by archaeological teams to identify additional sites that may contain further mass graves.

Karim stated that documented evidence confirms that executions took place at the site during different periods throughout the 1980s, with some killings dating back to the early years of the decade and others occurring later.

He stressed that all evidence, remains, and legal documentation would be submitted to the relevant courts to support legal proceedings and hold those responsible accountable.

The Director General further explained that the process of documenting and classifying remains passes through several stages, beginning with initial examination at a temporary site morgue before transfer to the dry morgue at the Department of Forensic Medicine, which issues the final official figures after classification is completed.

Karim added that the team identified the seven mass graves during a 21-day operation and noted that additional phases of work would continue in coordination with the relevant authorities and the Directorate of Martyrs’ Affairs.

Every year on 16 May, Iraqis commemorate the National Day of Mass Graves, remembering one of the darkest and most painful chapters in the country’s modern history. The occasion, established by the Iraqi parliament in 2007 following the discovery of the first mass grave in Babil province, serves as a reminder of the widespread atrocities committed against the Iraqi people, particularly the Kurdish population and other communities targeted by the fallen Ba'ath regime and terrorist organisations.

Official statistics show that 314 mass graves have so far been uncovered across Iraq. Of these, 160 belong to victims of the fallen Ba’ath regime, while 154 contain victims of terrorism and extremist groups after 2003, most of whom are Yazidi Kurds.

Despite ongoing efforts, 81 mass grave sites remain unopened, with some locations believed to contain multiple graves. In the Tel al-Shaykhiyah area of the Samawah desert alone, ten mass graves have been identified, but only three have been uncovered so far.

According to official data, 17 of the remaining sites are linked to crimes committed by the former regime, while 64 are connected to atrocities carried out by ISIS and other terrorist groups.



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