Yazidi families receive victims’ remains once again, marking another important step in the long process of healing. On August 13, 2025, authorities returned 22 bodies of Yazidi victims to their families near Sinjar. This return followed the identification of the remains and the discovery of their burial sites.
Khairi Ali, head of the PatriCor Organization for Human Rights, announced a ceremony on August 12 to hand over these bodies officially. Following the event, Yazidi families receive victims in a moving moment of remembrance and closure.
PatriCor focuses on human rights issues in Sinjar and surrounding areas. It works tirelessly to support Yazidis, who suffered genocide at the hands of ISIS militants since 2014.
Among the 22 victims, 18 were men and 4 were women. They came from villages such as Kojow, Tal Azir, Qani, Solagh, Hamdan, and Hardan Chwar, along with other locations.
Since 2021, this is the seventh time that Yazidi families receive victims’ remains. Earlier handovers took place in February 2021 with 104 bodies, followed by returns in December 2021, October 2022, June 2023, November 2024, and February 2025.
PatriCor has discovered 93 Yazidi mass graves. They have already excavated 55 of these graves. Meanwhile, teams still need to excavate 38 more.
These graves contain approximately 750 victims, but only 274 have been identified so far. The process of returning remains to families helps heal trauma and demands continued recognition of the Yazidi genocide.
This ongoing work ensures Yazidi families receive victims with dignity. It also strengthens calls for justice, remembrance, and support for survivors.
Despite the years passed, these efforts demonstrate the urgent need to address the suffering and honor the Yazidi community’s resilience and hope.Authorities and human rights groups continue working to locate more graves. They aim to return all victims’ remains to families, ensuring every Yazidi receives justice and proper burial.
