Rebuilding after ISIS
Mosul restores over 300 mosques with local and charitable support
NINEVEH — Mosul has successfully rebuilt more than 300 mosques devastated by the war against ISIS, bringing the governorate’s total to approximately 3,000 operational mosques. About half of the restorations were funded by local residents and charitable organizations, while the Sunni Endowment supported the remaining projects.
Special attention was given to historic mosques, including Nabi Yunus Mosque, Nabi Sheet Mosque, Nabi Jarjees Mosque, Al-Aghawat Mosque, Al-Basha Mosque, Al-Iraqi Mosque, Al-Sha’ouri Mosque, Al-Shama’in Mosque, Imam Muhsin Mosque, Sultan Wais Mosque, Fatima Khatoun Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Mosque, and Hamu Al-Qadu Mosque.
One notable restoration project is Sheikh Al-Shat Mosque, which overlooks the Tigris River in the Shahwan area and spans over 1,300 square meters. Another is the Al-Masfi Mosque, one of Islam’s oldest mosques, with a history nearly 1,400 years old.
“All the funds used to rebuild these mosques came from Mosul’s residents, without any external support,” said Sheikh Zaker Hassawi, imam of Al-Basha Mosque, to 964media. He praised local charities, including the Good Deeds Society and the Bab Al-Saray Charity, for their contributions to the restoration efforts.
Radd Al-Kateb, deputy head of the Lovers of Good Association, highlighted additional accomplishments: “We rebuilt more than 20 mosques, including Al-Bashir Mosque, Nabi Jarjees Mosque, and Al-Zaiwani Mosque. Our donors also helped restore 300 homes.”
Ahmed Rakan, spokesperson for the Sunni Endowment, stated that 90% of the mosques were restored to their original designs, with over half of the funding provided by the Sunni Endowment. He emphasized the crucial role of charitable organizations and local generosity in overcoming financial challenges faced by the state.
In Iraq, the Sunni and Shia Endowment Offices were established in 2003 following the dissolution of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs. The Sunni Endowment Office manages Sunni mosques and religious properties, while the Shia Endowment Office oversees Shia religious sites, including holy shrines and hawzas. Both institutions operate independently under the Council of Ministers, administering their respective religious endowments.
Two of Mosul’s most prominent mosques are being restored with international funding. The Al-Nuri Mosque, destroyed in 2017 by ISIS, is being rebuilt with $50.4 million pledged by the United Arab Emirates in partnership with UNESCO and Iraq’s Ministry of Culture as part of the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” project. Similarly, the Al-Raabiya Mosque, damaged in 2017, is being restored through collaboration with Iraqi, French, and Italian partners, focusing on preserving historic inscriptions, with completion expected by April.