Abstract
Background and objectives: Iraq is covered with multiple mass graves, families of Christian and Muslim victims experience the compound grief, displacement, and socioeconomic distress due to the exhumation processes, but there is minimal evidence regarding the connection of forensic/legal processes and culturally based psychosocial care. This paper examined the aspects of loss and grief, commemoration and memory, justice and accountability, psychosocial support needs, and healing pathways within the affected families.
Methods: Using Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology, we conducted semi‑structured interviews with purposively sampled relatives of mass‑grave victims (n=10; 7 men, 3 women; 37–66 years) in July–August 2025. Interviews (70–90 minutes) were recorded, transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed following Van Manen’s six activities, and relevant themes and subthemes were extracted.
Results: Five main themes emerged: (1) Experiences of loss and grief; (2) Memory and commemoration; (3) Justice and accountability; (4) Psychosocial support needs; and (5) Pathways to healing and resilience.
Conclusion: Forensic truth-seeking and cultural attuned psychosocial care and pragmatic accompaniment should be applied to survivor-focused responses that combine interfaith and culturally sensitive approaches with forensic truth-seeking and trauma-informed justice. Memorialization that is inclusive, spiritually encompassing, and uses interventions that are intertwined can reinforce resilience, reinstate dignity and cohesion in post-atrocity environments.
Keywords: Iraqi Kurdistan; Sorya mass graves; bereavement; psychosocial support; transitional justice; forensic identification.
