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Uncovering ISIS’s Mass Graves

In Iraq, these terrible trenches are all that remain of men, women, and children murdered by ISIS.

Yusuf Sayman

Published Mar. 19 2015 5:15AM EDT

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves11_pe90jf

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves1_jbfxtu — A mass grave site where ISIS executed and buried members of the local Yazidi minority. When KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) officials excavated the site in February, they found the bodies of 21 men, one woman, and one child.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves2_svzvmn — A mass grave site where ISIS executed and buried members of the local Yazidi minority. When KRG (Kurdish Regional Government) officials excavated the site in February, they found the bodies of 21 men, one woman, and one child.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves3_yi9rt4 — One of the four mass grave sites near the village of Hardan. These sites has not been excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves4_dumwff — Melko Saido, age 66, volunteered as a soldier after ISIS massacred civilians near his village.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves5_cuswpd — One of the four mass grave sites near the village of Hardan. These sites has not been excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves6_ybey3x — Pesmerge soldiers and locals examine a mass grave site.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves7_p0znyd — One of the four mass grave sites near the village of Hardan. These sites has not been excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves8_iurp0p — A local man examines an ISIS mass grave site where 20 men, a woman, and a child are buried. The victims, executed in the same spot, belonged to the Yazidi minority.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves9_e37vi1 — Site of an ISIS mass grave by the Mousul Dam lake.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves10_rjacg3 — Pesmerge fighters examining the ISIS mass grave sites.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves11_ubpet7 — A Pesmerge fighter in an ISIS mass grave site.

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves12_fwuhep — Pesmerge fighters show a grave site they located. The graves can not be excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves13_kpdncd — Pesmerge fighters show a grave site they located. The graves can not be excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves14_g7trpx — Pesmerge fighters examining an ISIS mass grave site. The graves can not be excavated because they are within sniper range from ISIS positions.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

galleries/2015/03/19/uncovering-isis-s-mass-graves/150318-sayman-graves15_vl3cfz — Site of an ISIS mass grave by the Mousul Dam lake.
Yusuf Sayman for The Daily Beast

Yusuf Sayman

Yusuf Sayman

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