Mass grave in Nineveh initially mistaken for Yazidi remains identified as animal bones

NINEVEH — A grave uncovered in the village of Garzark, within the Adnaniyah sub-district of Sinjar’s Nineveh province, initially suspected to contain the remains of Yazidi victims, has been confirmed to hold only animal bones, according to officials.

The discovery occurred over a month ago during construction work. Despite a circulating video claiming the bones were human, tests conducted in Baghdad have refuted these claims, identifying them as animal remains.

Khayri Ali Ibrahim, the director of the Petrichor Human Rights Organization, noted, “We are awaiting the arrival of a national team from Iraq’s mass graves directorate to further verify the origin of the bones.”

This incident comes amid ongoing discoveries of mass graves in the region, which trace back to the 2014 genocide when ISIS militants captured Sinjar and Tal Afar, displacing thousands. To date, 92 mass graves have been unearthed in Sinjar and Tal Afar, with 700 remains sent to Baghdad for forensic identification. However, only 342 victims have been positively identified through DNA testing.

The ongoing investigations highlight the unresolved fate of nearly 2,600 Yazidis, adding urgency to the excavation efforts. Recent finds include a mass grave discovered on July 25, 2024, in Tal Afar, containing the remains of men and children, and the excavation of 139 bodies from the Alo Antar hole in Tal Afar on July 14.

The Alo Antar site, a natural desert formation used by ISIS as a mass grave, is believed to contain the remains of Yazidi or Turkmen victims, indicated by the clothing found on some of the remains.

The ISIS attack on Sinjar on August 3, 2014, led to significant atrocities, including the capture of 6,417 Yazidis and the death of 1,293. This event, recognized by the United Nations as genocide, resulted in the displacement of 450,000 people and the destruction of 68 shrines.

Iraq continues to grapple with the legacy of conflict and violence, with an estimated 400,000 bodies buried across the country in mass graves dating back to various conflicts, including the era of the former Iraqi regime. The majority of these victims are believed to be Kurds, followed by Shiites and Christians. The Strategic Center for Human Rights in Iraq reports that 215 mass graves have been found in Iraq, with 130 excavated and 85 still untouched.