A Master's Thesis at the University of Basra Examines (A Geopolitical Analysis of the Crimes of the Dissolved Ba'ath Party in Basra Governorate from 1968 to 2003: Mass Graves as a Case Study)
A master's thesis at the College of Education for Women at the University of Basra, entitled "A Geopolitical Analysis of the Crimes of the Dissolved Ba'ath Party in Basra Governorate from 1968 to 2003: Mass Graves as a Case Study," examined the nature of the crimes committed by the Ba'athist dictatorship in Basra, focusing on mass graves and their geopolitical significance. The thesis, submitted by student Sarah Mahmoud Shamal, aimed to analyze the relationship between power and place, determine the spatial distribution of mass graves using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques, and reveal the impact of these crimes on the demographic and social structure of the governorate.
The study concluded that the locations of the mass graves were chosen according to precise security and geographic considerations, and that Basra was among the governorates most exposed to political violence, especially after the 1991 uprising, which caused significant demographic changes. The findings confirmed that the Ba'athist dictatorship used geography as a tool of domination and repression.
The report recommended the establishment of a national database to document mass graves, enhanced cooperation in excavation and discovery efforts, and the protection of grave sites as part of the national memory, along with supporting victims' families with appropriate social and humanitarian policies.
