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]
The range of victims: beyond Shiite prisoners
According to the UNITAD report, the victims also included men from the Yazidi, Christian and Sunni minorities.[17] Some reports have also indicated that prisoners of other ethnicities/religions — not just Shiites — were among those killed.[18]
Historical and Human Rights Significance
According to the UNITAD report, this attack was not only a war crime, but also carried out with "genocidal intent against the Shiites of Iraq."[19]
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Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant 
Iraq 
