The Iraqi Center for Documenting Extremism Crimes, affiliated with the Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Department of the Holy Shrine, is holding events attended by several board members, department heads, and officials, along with religious and official figures and the families of martyrs, under the slogan "In mass graves... the truth was hidden, but not buried" in the holy city of Najaf.
The events began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran, followed by listening to the national anthem and the anthem of the holy shrine (Pride's Melody), then the recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha in honor of the souls of Iraq's martyrs. After that, a speech was delivered by a member of the Board of Directors of the Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine; Dr. Abbas al-Dadah al-Moussawi.
The head of the Intellectual and Cultural Affairs Department; Sayed Aqeel al-Yasiri, said, "The events commemorating the Day of Mass Graves were held on the grounds of the Al-Salam Hotel, which previously witnessed the detention of a group of heroes of the Sha'ban Uprising, in addition to several religious figures, virtuous individuals, and prominent scholars, to serve as a landmark and witness to the crimes committed by the Ba'ath."
He added, "We hope to succeed in making this monument a museum that includes a collection of martyrs' belongings, in addition to symbolic graves for the victims whose remains have not been found, and a symbol representing the mass graves."
The events include several speeches: by the Governor of Najaf Ashraf, Mr. Youssef Kanawi, the Chairman of the Provincial Council, Dr. Hussein Al-Eisawi, the Chairman of the Martyrs Foundation, Dr. Abdul-Ilah al-Naili, the Prime Minister's Advisor for Religious Affairs, Sheikh Munir al-Turayhi, a speech by Mr. Hazem Al-Jubouri, one of the survivors of the mass graves, and another by the Chairman of the Iraqi Center for Documenting Extremism Crimes, Dr. Abbas al-Quraishi.
The events included honoring the martyrs by placing a wreath on their symbolic graves, followed by a commemorative stand in which the attendees participated, concluding with the opening of a documentary photo exhibition that documented the atrocities committed.
The Al-Abbas's (p) Holy Shrine aims, through the activities of the National Day for Mass Graves, to commemorate the sacrifices of the martyrs, affirm the importance of achieving justice, and preserve the national memory from being forgotten.