Yazidis Bury 104 Victims of Kocho Massacre

On February 6th, the Yazidi community buried 104 victims of the Kocho massacre, but the pain and devastation of ISIS’s genocide are ongoing. This is just the first step along the path to justice for Yazidi survivors.

Nadia Murad spoke to those attending the burial ceremony: “Among the remains that we buried on Saturday were my friends, neighbors and two of my brothers. Despite the depth of grief and wounds we endured on this occasion, I felt that we had accomplished something by giving them a dignified burial.

There are thousands of families who are waiting for the bodies of their loved ones in mass graves throughout Sinjar. These remaining bodies must be exhumed and buried in a way that preserves their dignity.

We can honor the victims of genocide who were killed by achieving justice for them without delay. Today, it is the responsibility of the Iraqi government and the international community to take action on the evidence collected so far, start to identify ISIS perpetrators, and prosecute them for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.”