The grave of a victim of an ISIS mass killing in Salah Al-Din, marked with a number to enable future identification. (Photo: 964media).
Remains of 29 people
Mass grave victims from 2014 ISIS atrocities laid to rest in Balad
SALAH AL-DIN – The National Mass Graves Team at the Ministry of Health buried the remains of 29 victims of the Islamic State atrocities from 2014 in Salah Al-Din governorate on Thursday. The remains were discovered in 2019 in a mass grave in the Kabban area of Al-Ishaqi. Following forensic examinations, including DNA testing, the burial took place at the Sayyid Mohammed Cemetery in Balad district.
Each grave was marked with identification codes and numbers to facilitate future identification efforts.
A 60-square-meter plot of land was allocated for the burial by the Balad Directorate, in cooperation with the Shiite Endowment Directorate, which oversaw the washing, shrouding, and funeral prayers for the remains.
“These remains belong to victims killed by ISIS terrorists during their control of parts of Salah Al-Din,” said Khamis Al-Hamdani, a member of the National Mass Graves Team, in a statement to 964media.
“The mass grave was opened in 2019 in the Kabban area of Al-Ishaqi. After following legal procedures and conducting DNA tests through the forensic department of the Ministry of Health, a database was established for each set of remains. Today’s burial ensures proper handling, although earlier delays occurred due to the commingling of bones,” Al-Hamdani explained.
He added, “With this systematic process, these remains could eventually be identified, allowing families of the missing to reclaim their loved ones.”
Bashar Rashid, Director of the Shiite Endowment in Balad, emphasized the significance of the chosen burial site. “The Sayyid Mohammed Cemetery was selected due to its proximity to the site of the tragedy and for the convenience of future visits,” he said.
Rashid commended the collaboration with local authorities, stating, “After marking the graves, we successfully completed the washing, shrouding, and prayer rituals. This was made possible through cooperation with the Balad Municipality, which allocated a suitable plot, and with support from the custodians of the Sayyid Mohammed Shrine.”
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, also known as Daesh in Arabic, is responsible for widespread violence, human rights abuses, and acts of genocide in Iraq and Syria. Emerging in 2014 as a successor to Al-Qaeda in Iraq, ISIS captured significant territories across Iraq, including cities like Mosul, Tikrit, and Fallujah.
The terror group declared a self-styled “caliphate” under its leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, enforcing an extremist interpretation of Islamic law and targeting ethnic and religious minorities. The group was defeated militarily in Iraq by 2017 through the efforts of Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga, supported by a U.S.-led coalition.
However, remnants of ISIS continue to operate as an insurgent force, carrying out sporadic attacks in Iraq and maintaining a presence in remote areas.
