Iraq Discovers Mass Grave of Women, Children in Samawah Desert

Iraqi officials announced the discovery of a mass grave in the Samawah Desert on Saturday, containing the remains of dozens of victims, mostly women and children, believed to be executed during the Baath regime's atrocities against the Iraqi people, Iraqi news outlets reported.

The grave, located 97 kilometers from the Nukhayb Desert's Salman Cemetery, was uncovered as part of ongoing investigations into crimes committed under Saddam Hussein's regime.

Preliminary findings revealed that the victims had been blindfolded, handcuffed, and executed in what officials described as a brutal act of genocide.

Diaa Al-Saadi, Director General of the Department for the Affairs and Protection of Mass Graves at the Martyrs Foundation, stated, "The ongoing discovery of mass graves committed by the Baath regime against the Iraqi people underscores its brutality and confirms its oppressive nature."

Specialized teams are currently working to document and exhume the remains in accordance with international standards. These efforts are part of broader initiatives to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure they face justice.

On Sunday, Muthanna Governor Muhannad Al-Attabi confirmed the discovery of another mass grave in Tel Sheikhiyah, Samawah. The grave contains the remains of Kurdish women and children, victims of the infamous Anfal campaign.

During an official ceremony attended by Shanaz Ahmed, Governor Al-Attabi remarked, “This mass grave reflects the horrific cruelty of the Baath regime, which buried women, children, and the elderly alive in mass graves. We extend our condolences to ourselves and the Kurdish people.”

Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, addressing attendees, said, "Today, we gather on this land that bears the suffering of our loved ones—women, children, elders, and youth—martyred by the former regime."

Ahmed emphasized ongoing efforts to address the issue of mass graves and repatriate the remains of victims, acknowledging the challenges and the long road ahead.

The national mass graves team has been collecting information and conducting blood sample analyses from victims’ families in four phases across Kalar, Chamchamal, and Koya. The team, comprising Baghdad’s forensic department, the Federal Martyrs Foundation, and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), has taken DNA samples from 1,600 family members to compare with the remains and identify the victims.