A mass grave containing the remains of 155 Kurds massacred during the 1988 Anfal campaign was exhumed on Sunday in the Tal Sheikha area of Iraq’s southern Muthanna province, according to the state-affiliated Martyrs Foundation.

The victims, primarily women and children, were among the thousands killed during the genocidal campaign carried out by Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime, which targeted Kurds in northern Iraq. The excavation is part of an ongoing effort to uncover the atrocities committed during the Anfal campaign, which claimed the lives of more than 182,000 Kurds and led to the destruction of approximately 4,500 villages in the Kurdistan Region.

Additional Graves Found

The Martyrs Foundation reported that seven additional mass graves have been discovered in the Tal Sheikha area and are currently being excavated. The graves were initially identified in December through satellite imagery, which has been instrumental in locating burial sites across the region.

Chro Hama Sharif, a member of Iraq’s parliament and a representative on the martyrs, victims, and political prisoners committee, expressed concern that the Martyrs Foundation has not yet informed the committee about the findings.

Legacy of the Anfal Campaign

The Anfal campaign began in 1986 and lasted two years. Under the direction of Saddam Hussein, Kurdish civilians were forcibly relocated, imprisoned, and executed in southern Iraq. Many were buried in mass graves, leaving survivors and families searching for closure decades later.

Iraq’s Supreme Court officially recognized the Anfal campaign as a crime against humanity in 2008. Despite this designation, survivors and the families of victims have received minimal justice or reparations.

Continued Efforts to Uncover the Past

The recent discoveries in Tal Sheikha underline the ongoing struggle to address the crimes of the past and bring justice to the victims. The excavation of mass graves represents both a painful reminder of Iraq’s history and a crucial step toward accountability and reconciliation for the Kurdish community.

Observers and human rights advocates are urging Iraqi authorities to prioritize the identification and memorialization of the victims, as well as provide meaningful support for survivors and their families.