Iraqis Mark International Day of the Disappeared Amid Ongoing Search for Truth

Iraqis Mark International Day of the Disappeared Amid Ongoing Search for Truth
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As the world observes the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, Iraqis reflect on decades of unresolved trauma caused by widespread disappearances under the former regime.

Tens of thousands of people—particularly from the Shiite and Kurdish communities—were forcibly disappeared during key historical events, such as the 1991 Shiite uprising and the 1988 Anfal campaign. Many of the victims, including women and children, were later found in mass graves scattered across the country.

Human rights advocates emphasize that enforced disappearance in Iraq was not isolated, but part of a systematic policy aimed at silencing dissent and instilling fear. Today, the occasion serves as a call to support the families still searching for answers and justice.

Experts urge the government to document these crimes through initiatives such as survivor testimonies, a national-UN database, annual bilingual reports, and a digital platform titled “Iraq’s Missing Memory” to archive stories and evidence.

Activists stress that these efforts are vital not only for national remembrance but also for securing justice, accountability, and the victims’ right to truth—rights that do not expire over time.