Mass Graves in Iraq: bloody testimonies of Baathist crimes that will not be forgotten

 
Baghdad – INA
 
Iraq marks the grim anniversary of crimes committed by Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime against its people—atrocities that include Halabja massacre, the Anfal campaign, mass graves, the Shaaban uprising, the assassination of scientists, and targeted attacks on political parties.
 
These crimes, embodied in hundreds of mass graves discovered before 2003, were later echoed by the horrors perpetrated by terrorist groups before and after 2014. Judicial and governmental efforts continue to hold perpetrators accountable for these atrocities, which remain an indelible stain on the history of a regime that had no place for humanity in its doctrine.
 
Rights for Martyrs’ Families

 

Abdullah Al-Naeli, head of the Martyrs Foundation, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that laws governing the foundation and victims of terrorism provide financial and moral rights to the families of martyrs. These rights include pensions for all categories of martyrs—whether victims of the former Baathist regime, terrorism, or members of the Popular Mobilization Forces and security services.
 
“All these groups receive equal pensions of 1.2 million Iraqi dinars per month, in addition to being granted residential plots and inclusion in health insurance and social welfare programs,” he said.
However, al-Naeli acknowledged that financial constraints prevent the foundation from fully covering all affected families. He added that efforts are underway to activate the Martyrs Fund, established in 2024, to support programs benefiting victims’ families.
 
The foundation has also launched a health insurance registration portal through the “Ur” platform, allowing for the classification of beneficiaries and coordination with hospitals inside and outside Iraq to ensure medical care for martyrs’ families. Al-Naeli emphasized the foundation’s role in documenting human rights violations, from those committed by the Baathist regime to those by ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
 
Furthermore, he highlighted the establishment of a National Registry for the Missing, spearheaded by the Mass Graves Directorate, to document individuals who disappeared under Saddam’s rule and in post-2003 conflicts. This registry aims to substantiate claims for financial compensation and legal recognition for victims’ families.
 
Mass Graves: Silent Witnesses to Genocide

 

 
Diaa Karim, Director-General of the Mass Graves Directorate, told INA that Iraq has documented two main categories of mass graves: those resulting from Baathist-era crimes and those linked to terrorist organizations.
 
“Some of the most infamous sites are in the Samawah desert, where mass graves contain massive  numbers of victims, predominantly women and children. The gruesome nature of these burials suggests a systematic and brutal campaign of extermination—remains are often intertwined, indicating hasty, large-scale executions,” he said.
 
Statistics indicate that 221 mass grave sites have been identified before and after 2003, including 96 linked to the Baathist regime and 125 attributed to terrorist organizations like ISIS. Of these, 134 sites have been excavated (80 from the Baathist era and 54 from terrorism-related crimes), while 87 remain unexamined.
 
Karim detailed the figures:
300  mass graves have been uncovered (160 from the Baathist era, 140 from terrorist groups).
7,709  sets of remains have been exhumed, with 4,451 linked to Baathist crimes and 3,258 to ISIS and other terror groups.
71  mass graves from terrorist crimes remain unexcavated, along with 16 from the Baathist regime.
 

 

Terrorist Mass Graves: The Alu Antar Well
 
Diaa Karim pointed to the Alu Antar Well in Mosul as one of the most notorious mass graves linked to ISIS atrocities.
 
“This site contains numerous victims, whose remains have been found in an unusually well-preserved state, almost mummified. Scientific analysis suggests this is due to the low-lying terrain and the cold temperatures at the time of execution,” he explained.
 
The exhumation process is ongoing, and authorities plan to resume recovery operations in May to retrieve the remaining remains.
 
Government Measures
 
The Mass Graves Protection Directorate is working on a unified missing persons registry, which will provide a definitive count of Iraq’s disappeared, covering cases from before and after 2003.
 
Karim revealed that the latest grave site discovered is in the Samawah desert, where aerial imagery and geospatial analysis helped uncover additional burial sites. Authorities have identified seven to eight more potential mass grave locations in the area.
 
“This issue demands significant resources, as many of these sites are in remote, insecure areas with harsh environmental conditions and deeply interwoven remains. Excavation requires financial allocations, skilled personnel, and international cooperation,” he stressed.
 
Karim emphasized that beyond exhumation, these efforts serve a greater purpose—documenting the crime scenes and preserving evidence of genocide and crimes against humanity. He called for greater international engagement, stating that global recognition and support are essential for ensuring these atrocities are not erased from history.
 
Calls for International Criminal Court Membership
 
Legal expert Abbas Al-Aqabi urged the Iraqi government to reconsider rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC).
 
“Iraq has suffered from its withdrawal from the ICC in 2005, as it has limited our ability to prosecute international criminals. It is crucial for Iraq to rejoin the court and accede to the Rome Statute, allowing for the prosecution of those responsible for crimes against the Iraqi people. The ICC can only address cases involving its member states,” Al-Aqabi told INA.
 
Judicial Challenges and Prosecution of Perpetrators
 
Legal expert Haider Al-Zalmi noted that Iraq had previously established the High Criminal Court under Law No. 10 of 2005, tasked with prosecuting key figures of Saddam Hussein’s regime for genocide and crimes against civilians. However, this court was later dissolved, and its jurisdiction transferred to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq under the Supreme Judicial Council.
 
“The government is still working to address unresolved cases through the Accountability and Justice Commission, which continues to pursue high-ranking former regime officials involved in mass killings,” he explained.
 
Political analyst Ali Al-Tamimi echoed calls for Iraq to join the Rome Statute, enabling it to hold perpetrators accountable on an international level.