Mosul without Al-Hadbaa

June 26, 2017 Middle East , Opinion , OPINION/NEWS

Reuters photo

By

Rafah Al Saad

Another major crime has been committed by ISIS in Mosul city, adding to the wild archives of crimes thus far…

The Great Mosque of Al-Nuri, the most prominent mosque in Iraqi history, exploded. Located in the Al Mahalla area, the oldest area on the right side of the city. The history of the mosque dates back to 844 and survived the Mongols invasion, but it did not survive ISIS and its brutality.

The Great Mosque of Al Nuri and the famous leaning minaret, known as Al hadba, was destroyed after ISIS realized it was the end of the state, bombing the mosque. The mosque being the same place ISIS rose to power, its reclusive leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi making a video from to announce the founding of the Islamic State in 2014. Iraqi forces said when ISIS saw them very close to the mosque, about 50 meters, they exploded it. This being revenge for Mosul citizens and the Iraqi forces as well, but they do not know that what they did means a formal declaration of their defeat, from the same place where Al Baghdadi declared his State.

The Great Mosque and the famous leaning minaret, which had dominated the skyline of Iraq’s second city for centuries and is pictured on the country’s 10,000 dinar banknote was destroyed by ISIS within an eye blink.

Every day, no every hour, I followed the news of the battle of Mosul then heard the Iraqi forces were very close to the Al Nuri Mosque. I hoped then that the greatest edifice was not hurt but the bad news came fast, on TV, twitter, facebook that Daesh bombed The Great Mosque of Al Nuri and the famous leaning minaret. Of course after the biggest event most Iraqi people started to write news and comment on social media. Some of them expressed their sadness and the pain of losing this historic edifice.

Others began to express their disturbance from the media attention, some of them said it is not a loss, it is just a mosque and can be easily rebuilt!!

Others said “there are hundreds of martyrs who were victims of in the Al Mosul battle and they are not less important than the mosque.”

For me I have to answer to those people and I do not exaggerate to anyone. But sadness for losing our history is normal because it is an event, and for others who talked about “martyrs” I said it’s just a sectarian objection without knowledge. Because sadness for our history does not mean we forget the martyrs of Iraq who are victims of terrorism.

I am sure that the people of Mosul will turn the page of grief and pain, but this does not mean forgetting. In their memories a lot of things, what they saw of the killings, kidnappings, torture and pillage, it happened in front of their eyes, but am sure they will be stronger and will rebuild themselves and their city.

It is worth mentioning that the leaning minaret was built with seven lines of blocks decorated with intricate geometric shapes that go up to the top with designs that also existed in Persia and Central Asia.

The mosque and the adjacent school were previously destroyed and rebuilt in 1942 in a restoration program carried out by the Iraqi government.