Heritage
Contributing to community reconciliation and peace building through the recovery of the living environment and rehabilitation of the city’s heritage sites. The most emblematic project being the reconstruction of the famous Al-Nouri Mosque and its minaret, Al-Hadba.
- The rehabilitation of the Al Nouri Mosque and the Al-Hadba minaret, Al Saa’a Church and Al Tahera Church – With the support of the United Arab Emirates ($50.4 million), UNESCO embarked on a major project to rehabilitate landmark cultural and religious sites. This project is underway in cooperation with the Iraqi Government and people.
- The reconstruction of houses and schools in the Old City of Mosul and Basra - with the support of the European Union ( $22.8 Million), UNESCO set out on a mission for urban rehabilitation as part of its larger project to rehabilitate Mosul’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. Restoring the identities within the communities of Mosul contributes to reconciliation and promotes more just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
Al-Sa’a Church (Church of the Clock)
Al-Sa’a Dominican Church had an associated school from which many Moslawis (inhabitants of Mosul) graduated, regardless of their faith. Anyone coming from Nineveh or Al-Farouq streets would see Al-Hadba minaret and the clock tower of Al-Sa’a Church sharing the Mosul skyline.
Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba minaret
The Mosque was originally built in the late twelfth century and is famous around the world for its iconic leaning minaret, al-Hadba, meaning ‘the hunchback’. The cylindrical minaret stood 45 metres high, with seven bands of decorative brickwork in complex geometric patterns sharing similarities with other monuments across Central Asia. It was a prominent landmark of the Old City of Mosul, and the emblem of the city, until it was destroyed in 2017. More on the project
Nabi Younis Shrine (Jonah’s tomb)
Destroyed in 2014 , this was one of Iraq’s renowned monuments. Revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews, it is believed to be the final resting place of the biblical prophet Jonah, and encapsulates the spirit of Mosul, as a symbol of religious coexistence and tolerance. The holy site is said to be the burial place of the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish in the Islamic and Judeo-Christian traditions.The tomb was inside a Sunni mosque called the Mosque of the Prophet Younis, which is Arabic for Jonah.
The market
The market at Bab Al-Saray where the traders of spices from India and China have been active for over a thousand years. It is also where the book sellers in Al-Nujaifi Street embody a commerce of goods and ideas dating from time immemorial. View of the market in 2018.
Mosul University’s Central Library
Amina is a Moslawi poet who finds inspiration for her writing in Mosul University’s Central Library. Hundreds of thousands of books and artefacts in this library were burned to ashes or destroyed.