Mass graves of Yezidis under threat of disappearance in Sinjar

The mass graves of Yezidis are under threat of disappearance and destruction by the Iraqi paramilitary forces engaged in the battle against the Islamic State in the Yezidi areas in southern Sinjar region.

Mahma Khalil, the mayor of Sinjar, said “We have fears that the Iraqi forces may not assist in uncovering these mass graves (of Yezidis) ISIS has made in the area and will be destroyed.”

Speaking to BasNews, Khalil stressed that “Baghdad has not done anything for Sinjar,” adding that they object to the deployment of Hashd al-Shaabi forces in Sinjar as it will create tensions in the region and put the mass graves of Yezidis under threat of disappearance.

The official called on the Iraqi forces and Hashd al-Shaabi to withdraw from the Yezidi areas and allow the people of Sinjar to rebuild their hometowns. He also demanded the forces to refrain from destroying the mass graves.

Mass graves of Yezidis who were massacred by the IS militants in August 2014 are believed to exist in the areas of Kojo, Tel Banat, Tel Qasab, Siba Sheikh Khidir, Gir Uzeir and Hatima located in southern Sinjar in which the Iraqi military and militia forces have been deployed.

Source: Iraqi News