ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Peshmerga forces uncovered a mass grave with 25 bodies of suspected Yezidis near Sinuse on Monday, the town’s mayor said.
“Peshmerga forces found a mass grave near Khansour village, west of Sinuse," said Mayor Nayef Seydo Qasim.
"It contained the remains of more than 25 people, including women, children and the elderly. These are Yezidi Kurds who were killed by the Islamic State (ISIS) when it took over the area," he added
"The Peshmerga forces are now encircling the mass grave and preventing people from tampering with the bodies, until the Genocide Commission arrives from Dohuk to document the crimes of genocide perpetrated against Yezidis, and to carry out DNA tests to identify victims," Qasim explained.
According to the mayor, there are other mass graves in the area, including one in the Hardan junction east of the town. "The other mass grave has 50 bodies of Yezidis," he said, adding it had not been fully excavated so far.
Thousands of Yezidis are missing since ISIS took over the Shingal area last August. According to witness accounts, many Yezidi girls have been taken by ISIS as sex slaves and the men are believed to have been killed.
