Forensic Investigation of Two Christian and Muslim Mass Graves Skeletal Remains in Sorya-Duhok governorate- Iraqi Kurdistan

Abstract

1 Medical Research Center, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq. 2 Department of Medical Lab. Technology, Health Technical College, Erbil, Iraq. * Correspondence: dr_yka@yahoo.com Introduction Throughout modern history, Christians have been geographically dispersed, with large numbers in cities across Iraq. In 1961 there were one million Christians in northern Iraq. However, by 1979, 50% of Christians were living in Baghdad, making up 14% of the capital's population. Under the Ba'ath regime's Arabisation policies, the community was required to identify as either Arab or Kurd in the 1977 census. Now, the largely reduced Christian population remains in Baghdad, Basra, Kirkuk, the Nineveh Plains, as well as the Erbil and Duhok governorates in the Kurdistan regional government. The last Iraqi census, in 1987, counted 1.4 million Christians, but the economic sanctions during the 1990s led to their migration abroad. Before starting the Gulf War between Iraq and Coalition forces in 1991, they were estimated at about one million. By the time of the US-led invasion in 2003, that figure fell to about 800,000. Then the numbers are thought to have fallen dramatically after attacking them by different groups of terrorist especially in Nineveh. The identification of mass graves skeletal remains and anthropological evaluation considered as the most important step toward documenting human rights violations which lead to giving back to families the remaining skeleton of victims, which are considered, until exhumed, as lost or disappeared. The mass graves in Iraq are Background and objective: This study aimed to investigate two mass graves located in Sorya village, Duhok governorate-Iraqi Kurdistan region. Methods: The investigation included excavation of the graves and identification of the victims. The field study was started after taking testimonies and witnesses for locating the site of graves. Two sites were described (Site 001 and site 002), which were excavated according to the scientific standard procedures. Sex determination, age, and stature estimation were performed on the remained skeletons in the medico-legal institute-Erbil laboratory. Results: Site 001 included 14 bodies, two of them were males and five were females, whereas the others were not identified because of degradations happens to the bones. Site 002 included 25 bodies, which were Christians according to witnesses and supported by evidence. Four victims appeared to be males, 14 were females, and 7 could not be identified. The results of age estimation reported that the number of young bodies in site 001 was five bodies, which represent 35.7% of them all, while 13 out of 25 were young bodies in site 002, which produced 52% of all victims. All the remained bones were recorded in detail for more documentation. Conclusion: This finding described the exhumation and anthropological evaluation of two mass graves in Sorya– Duhok governorate Iraqi Kurdistan region. The majority of the victims were females and contain Christian and Muslims people.