By Carolyn Abdenour
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
BENGHAZI, Libya – On Monday, 5 March, thousands of Libyans gathered in the former rebel capital of Benghazi to bury the bodies of 157 civilians and rebel fighters government officials discovered in a mass grave on Friday. The officials unearthed the largest grave yet in the desert town of Bin Jawwad, a major battleground for the country’s 2011 civil war.
Omar al-Obeidi, head of the new government-run missing person’s office, reported that officials began excavating bodies on Friday and completed the excavation on Sunday. So far, officials have identified 80 bodies. He added that all the bodies are from eastern Libya, and the youngest victim was a 17-year-old boy.
Most of the victims died between February and March 2011 from gunshot wounds and rocket strikes. Some people died via execution, and rocket attacks severely disfigured others.
Al-Obeidi noted that before his office opened the graves to identify the bodies, it obtained a fatwa from the Mufti, Sheikh al-Sadiq al-Gharyani, and permission from Attorney General Abdelaziz al-Hassadi.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Martyrs, Wounded and Missing Persons Osama Swail stated the government would return the identified bodies to their families for proper funerals. Mr. Swali commented that two of his brothers were identified in the mass grave.
Presently, a forensic team is collecting DNA samples and photographs from the unidentified bodies in an attempt to match this information with DNA samples the ministry holds for missing persons throughout the country.
Libyans mourned for the deceased by holding a “Martyrs’ Parade” on Monday. The procession began in Bin Jawwad, passed through the city of Ajdabiya, and ended in Benghazi. Government officials escorted a caravan of 23 trucks carrying wooden coffins, each draped in a tri-colored Libyan flag, through the country’s eastern cities. Libyans held a traditional Islamic prayer service in honor of their fallen “martyrs” in Benghazi’s Tahrir Square after the delivery of coffins ended.
Mohammed al-Darnaway came to Tahrir Square to bury his two brothers. He asserted, “The revolutionaries of Zintan must hand over Seif al-Islam [Gaddafi’s son] immediately for trial.” Al-Islam remains in custody of a militia composed of former rebel fighters.
Benghazi resident Mahar al-Maghrabi also expressed anger at his new government for taking almost three months to recover the bodies, including the body of his brother, a 23-year-old rebel fighter. He said, “They knew about this grave, and they should have worked quicker to excavate the bodies…This is unacceptable.”
For further information, please see:
IOL News – Libyans Mourn Dozens Found In Mass Grave – 6 Mar 2012
Newsday – World Briefs – 6 Mar 2012
The Miami Herald – Libya Buries 170 Bodies Found In Mass Grave – 5 Mar 2012
Boston Globe – Mass Grave of 157 Bodies Unearthed in Libyan Town – 4 Mar 2012
