Kirkuk Sunni Endowment Directorate says no graves found on disputed investment land

KIRKUK, Iraq — The Kirkuk Sunni Endowment Directorate said no graves were found on a plot of land allocated for investment in the village of Rejbat, in the southern Laylan district, according to a statement from director Salim Wali Majid. Majid said a special commission formed to inspect the site found no evidence, remains or visual indications of burials. He added that all graves of Kirkuk residents are kept in official records held by the directorate, and the land in question does not appear in those records as a burial site. The directorate said it had submitted its findings in writing to the Kirkuk Investment Commission, along with the commission's field report and photographs from the site. The review was initiated after villagers objected to plans to convert the land into a housing project, claiming it contained an old village cemetery, and the Investment Commission asked the Sunni Endowment Directorate to investigate the allegations. No further details were immediately available.