41 Yazidis killed by ISIS in 2014 laid to rest in Shengal

The bodies of 41 Yazidis who were murdered in the attack on Shengal carried out by the Islamic State in 2014 were finally laid to rest.

The Islamic State carried out horrendous crimes in Shengal on 3 August 2014. These genocidal attacks caused the death of thousands of Yazidis. Thousands of Yazidi women were kidnapped and sold in slave markets. Thousands of killed Yazidis were buried in mass graves by ISIS. 92 mass graves have been identified in Shengal so far.

Iraq started to work on opening mass graves on 15 March 2019, under the supervision of the United Nations. However, only 55 mass graves have been opened so far. The bones of 1,032 people murdered were found in the mass graves opened so far.

Iraq was able to deliver the bodies of 242 Yazidi citizens, whose identities were determined through DNA testing, to their families. There are the bodies of 790 people in the Baghdad Forensic Medicine Institute, whose identities are expected to be established thanks to the DNA tests.

On Wednesday, the bodies of 41 Yazidis, whose identities were established after DNA tests were completed, were buried in Shengal.

Administrators and members of Shengal Autonomous Administration as well as many Yazidis attended three separate ceremonies held in the villages of Qinê, Herdan and Koço.