Iraq’s Nineveh province has initiated the excavation of the Al-Khasfa Pit, the largest mass grave in the country, containing thousands of ISIS victims. Governor Abdul Qadir Al-Dakhil highlighted the project’s urgency and legal coordination. Financially, the province pledged full responsibility for funding the operation, expecting the excavation to last up to a year, while also planning work on other mass graves.
Authorities in Iraq’s Nineveh province have commenced the excavation of the Al-Khasfa Pit, recognized as the largest mass grave in Iraq, which holds thousands of victims of ISIS. Governor Abdul Qadir Al-Dakhil emphasized the grave’s significance and the urgent necessity for exhumation and victim identification during a recent site visit south of Mosul.
Al-Dakhil stated that the excavation process will be coordinated with the Nineveh Court of Appeal to ensure that all legal protocols are adhered to. Despite financial challenges faced by Iraq’s Martyrs’ Foundation, the governor committed to covering the project’s costs entirely, emphasizing the need for prompt action.
The governor anticipated that the excavation could extend over a year but affirmed, “We have a clear roadmap,” asserting that both local and international organizations will supervise the project. He also declared plans to address other mass graves in Tal Afar and Sinjar.
Preliminary findings indicate that ISIS conducted mass executions at Al-Khasfa, reportedly killing as many as 2,000 individuals each day during their reign from 2014 to 2017. Earlier this year, Iraqi authorities recovered the remains of several Nineveh residents executed by ISIS in 2016, highlighting the timely need for this excavation operation.
The excavation of the Al-Khasfa Pit marks a significant step towards justice and accountability in Iraq, addressing the painful legacy of ISIS atrocities. Governor Al-Dakhil’s commitment to the project, despite financial hurdles, underscores the urgency of providing answers to the victims’ families. Furthermore, the planned expansion to other mass graves illustrates a broader initiative to confront the history of violence in the region.
Original Source: shafaq.com
