October 21, 2014

As officials struggle on what so say about this new crime, workers in Mahaweel a town north of Babylon province next to Mahaweel Military base uncover what is estimated to be 100 dead bodies of civilians dumped in a mass grave within a sewage treatment facility. Tens of other bodies were also found in sewage pipelines leading to the military base.

This Mass grave was discovered accidentally after a child reported seeing a human hand floating on Thursday.

Witnesses also stated that some IDs were found with the dead bodies adding further that victims were civilian.

The bodies are thought to belong to people who live in the Jurf Al Sakhr areas where militias are highly active against the predominantly sunni population there as sectarian violence and forced migration tactics are used to change the demographics of Baghdad and ints outskirts. As digging continues fears of finding more bodies are rising as the sewage facility extends to another 5 treatment units adding prospects of finding up to 500 fresh bodies in the area. Works to dig out these bodies have extended only to the first site so far.

Criminal militias sponsored by the Iraqi Government and Iran have always been a problem causing instability and throughout the country along with terrorist organisations that have entered iraq since the occupation of 2003. While Mahaweel Military Base belongs to the Iraqi Army, it is widely known by locals as a launching pad for Militia activity within the area. Locals have always expressed concern from these detachments but their calls have fallen mostly to deaf ears.

This recent discovery comes two days after Amnesty international released its report on Criminal Militias activities calling on the international community to address this recurring problem which not only causes loss of innocent life but adds to the cycle of violence, revenge and radicalisation on local communities.

LINK TO AMNESTY REPORT http://www.frbiu.com/uploads/3/8/5/7/38574677/absolute_impun
ity_iraq_report_1.pdf




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