New Mass Grave Discovered in Samawah

Iraq 11:41 AM - 2025-01-09

DNA Test with Kurdistan flag backdrop.

A new mass grave containing the remains of martyrs has been discovered in the city of Samawah, while the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq confirmed that the second phase of collecting blood samples from the relatives of the Anfal victims will begin soon.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is actively working to return the remains of the martyrs. MP Chro Hama Sharif, a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Martyrs and Political Prisoners, told PUKMEDIA that the PUK bloc is making continuous efforts to ensure the return of the martyrs' remains to their original areas.

She further stated that the second phase of the national campaign to gather blood samples and information from the families of the Anfal victims would commence shortly, highlighting the significant role played by Iraqi First Lady Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed in supporting and facilitating the efforts to return the remains to their rightful locations.

 

New Mass Grave Found

Presidential Advisor Pari Nouri Aziz informed PUKMEDIA that a new mass grave had been discovered near the Nugra Salman area in Samawah, Muthanna Governorate. She added that a new phase of the national campaign to collect blood samples and information from the families of the Anfal victims is set to begin, with participation from teams from the Forensic Medicine Department in Baghdad, the Federal Martyrs Foundation, and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). 

She explained that in the second phase, blood samples will be collected for DNA testing, which will then be compared with samples from the remains of the martyrs to identify them. The First Lady continues to support and assist the specialist teams to expedite their work, with the federal government responsible for conducting these tests in accordance with the law.

 

First Phase of the National Campaign

Last month, the first phase of the national campaign to gather blood samples and information from the families of the Anfal victims was completed. 

The national team, composed of experts from the Forensic Medicine Department in Baghdad, and the Martyrs Foundation’s Department for Mass Grave Affairs, in coordination with the Office of the Iraqi First Lady and ICMP, successfully carried out this phase. The teams collected information and blood samples from 1,600 relatives of the Anfal victims across four stages in the districts of Kalar, Chamchamal, and Koya. These samples will be used for DNA tests to identify the martyrs’ remains.



PUKMEDIA