At Least 16 Mass Graves Discovered in Iraq's Sinjar Reclaimed From Daesh

Most of the Sinjar residents were members of the Yazidi religious minority, whose faith is considered heretical among members of Daesh, also known as ISIL/The Islamic State. Having seized the territory in August 2014, the militant group made Yazidis a target for their abominable massacres, enslavement and rape, forcing thousands to flee.

The United Nations said Friday that a "gross human rights violations" took place in the area, also describing the attack as a possible genocide.

It is no secret that the barbarous practices committed by Daesh often include kidnapping and killing the civilians on the territories controlled by the terrorist group.

"We have received reports that some 16 mass graves containing the bodies of individuals murdered by ISIL [Daesh] have been discovered in Sinjar," Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, told reporters.

It is not known for certain how many bodies the newly found graves contained, nor where in Sinjar, precisely, they were located, Pouilly said. ABC News reports that according to the Sinjar head of intelligence, Qasim Samir, one of the graves near the town's center contained the bodies of 78 elderly women. Another grave, on the outskirts of the town, held the bodies of between 50 and 60 men, women and children.

Pouilly also added that many of the Sunni Arab communities on Iraqi territories recaptured from Daesh undergo similar human rights abuses. Iraqi and Kurdish security forces with their respective affiliated militias have reportedly been carrying out forays, destroying people's belongings. Forced evictions have sometimes taken place, and even extrajudicial killings.

"Sunni Arab communities have faced increasing discrimination, harassment and violence from other ethnic and religious groups who accuse them of supporting ISIL [Daesh]," Pouilly said.

According to the spokeswoman, this has been going on for months, for many Sunnis who were forced to obey the terrorist group are "perceived as having supported" the militants.

"We urge the government of Iraq to investigate all human rights violations and abuses, including those committed against the Arab Sunni communities, to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure that victims have access to appropriate remedies," Pouilly said.