Sama
Today, Saturday, 7/13/2024, families of the victims attended a demonstration of the excavation work at the Bir Alou Antar massacre site in the Tal Afar district, joined by Yazidi, Shiite, and Turkmen families of the victims.
Mr. Shehab Ahmed, Director of the Shingal Branch of the General Directorate of Survivors’ Affairs, provided a statement to Sama: “Today, we participated in a demonstration at the Bir Alou Antar massacre site with the families of the victims. The demonstration included a detailed explanation and direct showcase of the stages of work in the cemetery, conducted by the National Team for Opening Graves and the Department of Mass Graves Affairs and Protection.”
Shehab Ahmed added that excavations began in this cemetery on May 28, uncovering remains of martyrs killed by ISIS terrorist gangs. The work continues, and while the expected number of victims’ remains was higher, 107 complete remains and 32 partial remains have been identified, along with other forensic evidence proving the victims’ identities.
Continuing his speech, Ahmed mentioned that the victims’ families requested the General Directorate of Survivors’ Affairs to follow up on the mass graves issue with the relevant authorities. They stressed the importance of continuing to open all mass graves and handing over the remains to their families for proper burial.
The Director of the Shingal Branch also stated that the Directorate has obtained all necessary approvals to create memorials at all mass grave sites to commemorate the victims. He appreciated the great efforts of the National Cemeteries Team and highlighted the importance of their support and cooperation from the victims’ families and local organizations in completing the opening of all cemeteries.
It is worth noting that the diameter of the Alou Antar well is about 50 meters, with a depth of about 100 meters, which has been significantly reduced due to the bodies being thrown in and covered with dirt. Among the dozens of bodies in the hole, there are women and children, identified by their clothes as members of the Yazidi religion, along with Shiite Turkmen.
The Alou Antar excavation, known by this name among the Turkmen, is approximately 600 meters away from the main road, in a barren area deep in the desert, near a village called Baki Got, inhabited by Shiite Turkmen. Tal Afar is located 69 km northwest of Mosul in Nineveh Governorate and has a population of over 254,000 according to the Iraqi Ministry of Planning’s 2019 estimates. Turkmen live in the center of Tal Afar, while Arabs and Kurds reside on the district’s outskirts.