Badush prison massacre

Badush prison massacre
Part of Islamic State invasion of Iraq and Persecution of Shias by the Islamic State
Location36°24′55″N 42°58′17″E / 36.415278°N 42.971389°E / 36.415278; 42.971389
Badush, Iraq
Date10 June 2014
TargetShia prisoners
Attack type
Mass murder, mass shooting
Deaths670–1,000+[1]
Perpetrators Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Defender Iraq

On 10 June 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) killed at least 670 Shia prisoners in an attack on Badush prison. ISIL first separated out the Sunni inmates before executing the remaining prisoners.[2][3]

On 11 March 2017, the Popular Mobilization Forces announced that they had discovered a mass grave containing the remains of 500 prisoners executed by ISIL in the prison.[4] There were 39 Indian construction workers who were executed in the region.[5]

On 13 June 2021, it was reported that Iraqi authorities had removed the remains of 123 people murdered by ISIL during the prison attack from a mass grave to identify them using DNA from relatives.[6]

New International Investigation and Crime Assessment Report

In September 2024, UNITAD (the United Nations Office for the Investigation of International Crimes) published a report on “international crimes” committed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against prisoners at Badush Central Prison. The report stated that approximately 1,000 male prisoners — mostly Shia but including some Sunnis, Yazidis and Christians — were executed at at least six different locations on the same day (June 10, 2014).[7][8]

According to UNITAD and in collaboration with Iraqi civil society organizations — as of the time of this report — the remains of over 600 victims have been recovered and examined. This new finding suggests that the executions were likely more widespread than initially estimated (670 to 1,000+) — and also highlights the possibility of “genocidal intent.” This section can be added to the lead of the article or to a separate section such as “Investigations & International findings.”[9]

Mass-grave discovery and victim identification process (2017 to even 2025)

In March 2017, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) announced that they had found a mass grave containing the remains of approximately 500 executed prisoners near Badush Prison.[10] On June 13, 2021, Iraqi authorities announced that the remains of 123 victims had been removed from that mass grave to be identified through DNA testing.[11] In 2025, Iraqi forensic offices reported that the remains of 28 persons (part of the victims) had been returned to their families.[12] It was also reported in July 2025 that the remains of 20 more victims had been returned to their families after genetic matching; this is the fourth series of victims' returns, and so far 171 identified bodies have been returned to families.[13]

Witness accounts and manner of killings in detail

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), during the prison attack: Sunni and Christian prisoners (and perhaps other minorities) were separated and driven away — but the predominantly Shiite prisoners (and some minorities) were forced to stand in a line along the side of a ravine and then shot with automatic weapons[14] One survivor described: “They told everyone to raise their hand and say their number… I was number 43; after 615 people, someone started shooting…”[15] It is said that some of the bodies were burned after the murder.[16]

References

  1. ^ "ISIL committed war crimes at Mosul prison, UN investigation finds".
  2. ^ Nebehay, Stephanie; Rasheed, Ahmed (25 August 2014). "U.N. accuses Islamic State of mass killings". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  3. ^ "Iraq: ISIS Executed Hundreds of Prison Inmates". Human Rights Watch. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Security forces find mass grave of 500 bodies in Badush Prison, near Mosul". Iraqi News. 11 March 2017. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Indians killed in Iraq: Visuals of 'burial mound' where bodies were found". The Economic Times. 20 March 2018. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  6. ^ "Iraq removes remains of 123 people killed by Islamic State in bid to identify victims". news.yahoo.com. 13 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  7. ^ UNITAD Publishes Findings on International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against Predominantly Shi’a Inmates of Badush Prison Retrieved 27 November 2025
  8. ^ Syrian car bomb attack kills 17 Retrieved 27 November 2025
  9. ^ UNITAD Publishes Findings on International Crimes Committed by ISIL (Da’esh) against Predominantly Shi’a Inmates of Badush Prison Retrieved 27 November 2025
  10. ^ Security forces find mass grave of 500 bodies in Badush Prison, near Mosul Retrieved 27 November 2025
  11. ^ Iraq opens mass grave to identify ISIS Badush prison massacre victims Retrieved 27 November 2025
  12. ^ Forensic Medicine: The remains of 28 martyrs of Badoush prison massacre have been received Retrieved 27 November 2025
  13. ^ Health Ministry : The remains of 20 victims of the Badoush prison massacre were handed over after genetic matching was completed Retrieved 27 November 2025
  14. ^ Iraq: ISIS Executed Hundreds of Prison Inmates Retrieved 27 November 2025
  15. ^ Iraq: ISIS Executed Hundreds of Prison Inmates Retrieved 27 November 2025
  16. ^ Iraqi mass grave containing victims of Badush-prison massacre being unearthed Retrieved 27 November 2025


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