A new report has uncovered a mass grave in North Sinai, which researchers say was likely used by the Egyptian military to bury the bodies of people extrajudicially killed in the area, reported the Middle East Monitor. The findings were published on Sep. 22 by the Sinai Foundation for Human Rights (SFHR), and analysed by UK-based research agency Forensic Architecture.
Since 2013, Egypt’s military has engaged in an operation against groups affiliated with the ‘Islamic State’ group in North Sinai. The military has been accused of committing grave human rights violations against the civilian population since the campaign began.
The report documented evidence of 36 human skulls at a mass grave near the city of El-Arish. It said the total number of bodies at the site was likely to be much higher, with many bodies unaccounted for.
The analysis was partly based on testimonies obtained by two members of army-aligned militias who admitted to transporting detainees to the mass grave for execution. They denied direct involvement in the killings. The report also included photos, video footage and field observations from SFHR researchers.
The evidence indicated that the site contained over 300 bodies buried in an improper manner. Many of the bodies were buried in full civilian clothing and shoes, the report noted, which is against traditional burial practices. Some skulls had blindfolds, which suggested extrajudicial killing.
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