Mass grave of Yezidis found near Mosul

Mass grave of Yezidis found near Mosul

ANF - HEWLER

It is reported that a mass grave containing dozens of bodies has been found in the Zumar area of Mosul. The bodies are said to belong to Yezidis who were summarily executed.

The mass grave was found in the village of Barzank 5 km from the oil region of Zumar on 9 September.

According to the PUKMedia, by Tuesday a group of experts from Duhok had found 14 bodies, some belonging to children. A PUK official said that judging by the clothing and physiognomy of the faces the victims were likely to have been Yezidis executed by ISIS.

The Iranian Press TV has said a mass grave has also been found in the Hamidat area containing nearly 500 bodies. The TV station claimed the bodies were those of hostages held by ISIS in the Badush prison in Mosul.

The murderous gangs that now call themselves Islamic State launched attacks on the Yezidi homeland of Sinjar on 3 August, carrying out massacres, abducting thousands of people and carrying out mass executions. International human rights organisations described these attacks by ISIS as ethnic and religious cleansing, constituting crimes against humanity that must be punished.