Recovery operations underway to retrieve bodies from ISIS mass grave in Mosul
Date
7/21/2024 4:05:24 AM
(MENAFN) In northern Iraq, recovery operations are ongoing in the district of Tal Afar to retrieve bodies from a mass grave believed to contain the remains of ethnic Turkmen who were killed by the Daesh/ISIS terrorist group between 2014 and 2017. This grave, known locally as Allav Anter or the "well of hell," is situated west of Mosul and is over 100 meters (328 feet) deep. It was reportedly used by Daesh/ISIS for disposing of the bodies of executed individuals, with thousands of Turkmen from the region feared to be among the victims.
The initiative to recover the bodies is led by Turkmen groups and institutions, with the Iraqi government assisting in the efforts. The area was seized by Daesh/ISIS a decade ago, and Turhan Ketene, president of the Turkmeneli Cooperation and Culture Foundation, stated that over 1,000 Turkmen from Tal Afar were thrown into this well by the terrorists. This mass grave was reported to authorities six years ago.
Tal Afar District Governor Halil Muhsin has estimated that the well may contain more than 1,500 bodies. The exhumation process, which has been underway for about a month and a half, has already uncovered remains of women and children. Governor Muhsin has called for an acceleration of the recovery efforts and for DNA testing to identify the victims.
Ali Habib, the Tal Afar Coordinator of the Turkmeneli Human Rights Center, has emphasized that video evidence and eyewitness accounts have confirmed the presence of Turkmen executed by Daesh/ISIS in the well. He mentioned that the mass grave was reported to both Iraqi officials and international authorities following the liberation of the region from the terror group in 2017. Habib stressed the urgent need for DNA testing on the recovered remains to provide closure for the families of the missing.
Despite challenging conditions such as dust storms and extreme heat, the search continues. To date, over 200 bodies have been recovered and sent for DNA analysis, but the work is still far from complete. Daesh/ISIS had taken control of several regions in northern Iraq, including Mosul, Salahaddin, Anbar, and parts of Diyala and Kirkuk, beginning in June 2014. Iraqi forces reclaimed these areas over the following years, with former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declaring victory over ISIS on December 9, 2017.
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