Salah Al-Din’s Aziz Balad reopens social venue destroyed by ISIS

SALAH AL-DIN — The town of Aziz Balad in Salah al-Din governorate has reopened its only social hall, nearly a decade after it was destroyed by ISIS.

The reopening is seen as a step toward recovery, but residents are urging authorities to address broader reconstruction needs, including their homes and essential infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

The hall, first constructed in 2012, was rebuilt and reopened in 2024 by the local government. Covering 2,200 square meters and with a capacity for 750 people, it was designed primarily for mourning ceremonies and community gatherings. It is managed by the local authorities and is free for public use.

“This hall was destroyed by ISIS, but today we reopen it as a symbol of recovery,” said Amjad Talmas, head of the Integrity Committee in the Salah al-Din Provincial Council. Speaking to 964media, he highlighted plans to integrate Aziz Balad into development projects. “The council is working with the Prime Minister’s Engineering Committee and the Fund for the Reconstruction of Affected Areas on projects that include road expansions, repairing infrastructure, developing water facilities, and maintaining electricity networks,” he added.

Residents expressed gratitude for the hall’s reopening but emphasized the need for immediate action on other pressing issues. “This is a first step toward rebuilding the area’s infrastructure,” said community elder Ali Hussein Al-Faraji. “We urgently need to repair electricity and water networks, and compensation for affected residents is crucial so they can begin rebuilding their homes.”.

Many returning residents have faced significant challenges. “We came back from displacement to find our homes destroyed and basic services like water and paved roads unavailable,” said local resident Mohammed Akaab. “Reopening the mourning hall is a positive start, but we need electricity, water, road repairs, and compensation for the damages caused by terrorism.”.

Between June 2014 and August 2017, ISIS orchestrated widespread destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage, targeting historic sites, religious shrines, and artifacts of immense cultural and historical importance. According to a 32-page report by the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by ISIL, these actions amounted to “war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Among the many sites devastated during their occupation of Tikrit in 2014 was the Mazar Al-Arba’een, a shrine of profound religious and cultural importance to the local community.