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| Dasht-i-Leili massacre | |
|---|---|
 A picture of a mass grave from the Dasht-i-Leili massacre published by the United Nations and Physicians for Human Rights. | |
  Dasht-i-Leili massacre (Afghanistan) | |
| Location | West of Sheberghan, Jowzjan Province, Afghanistan |
| Coordinates | 36°39′24.17″N 65°42′20.71″E / 36.6567139°N 65.7057528°E |
| Date | December 2001 |
| Target | Taliban prisoners of war |
Attack type | Massacre |
| Deaths | 250–2,000 |
| Perpetrators | Soldiers of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan |
| Assailants | Abdul Rashid Dostum (alleged, denied by Dostum) |
The Dasht-i-Leili massacre occurred in December 2001 during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan when 250 to 2,000 Taliban prisoners were shot and/or suffocated to death in metal shipping containers while being transferred by Junbish-i Milli soldiers under the supervision of forces loyal to General Rashid Dostum[1][2][3] from Kunduz to Sheberghan prison in Afghanistan. The site of the graves is believed to be in the Dasht-e Leili desert just west of Sheberghan, in the Jowzjan Province.[4][5][6][7]
Some of the prisoners were survivors of the Battle of Qala-i-Jangi in Mazar-i-Sharif. In 2009, Dostum denied the accusations.[8][9][10] According to all sources, many of the prisoners died from suffocation inside the containers, and some witnesses claimed that those who survived were shot. The dead were buried in a mass grave under the authority of Commander Kamal.[citation needed]
The allegations have been investigated since 2002 by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). PHR conducted two forensic missions to the site under the auspices of the United Nations in 2002.[11] In 2008, PHR reported that the grave had been tampered with.[12]
- ^ Risen, James (10 July 2009). "U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.'s Died". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Gall, Carlotta (May 2002). "Study Hints at Mass Killing of the Taliban". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "The Truth About Dasht-i-Leili". The New York Times. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ "Starved, hurt and buried alive in Afghanistan". Independent Online. 2 May 2002. Archived from the original on 13 June 2006. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
- ^ Dasht-e-Leili Photos; Sheberghan Prison and Pit Locations at Dasht-e-Leili Archived 3 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Physicians for Human Rights, Retrieved 19 February 2012
- ^ "Opinion EDITORIAL The Truth About Dasht-i-Leili". New York Times. 13 July 2009.
- ^ "Assessments and Documentation in Afghanistan | Assessments in Afghanistan: Dasht-e-Leili". Physicians for Human Rights.
- ^ Dostum, Abdul Rashid (17 July 2009). "It Is Impossible Prisoners Were Abused". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Oppel, Rich (18 July 2009). "Afghan Warlord Denies Links to '01 Killings". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 October 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Saman Zia-Zarifi (17 July 2009). "A Response To General Dostum". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
- ^ Physicians for Human Rights, Preliminary Assessment of Alleged Mass Gravesites in the Area of Mazar-I-Sharif, Afghanistan (Amended) Archived 15 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine (pdf), 2002. Report amended 12 December 2008; the original 2002 report is still available from Physicians for Human Rights on request Archived 20 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Heidi Vogt,"UN confirms Afghan mass grave site disturbed," USA Today, 12 December 2008.