UNESCO completes restoration of Mosul’s historic landmarks. Al-Tahira Church, Al-Saa’a churches and Al-Nouri Mosque returned to former glory

MOSUL/NINEVEH PLAINS, Iraq — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has completed the restoration of three significant historical landmarks in Mosul, the Al-Nouri Mosque, Al-Tahira Church, and Al-Saa’a Church. These sites, which were severely damaged during the occupation of the city by the Islamic State (IS), which targeted Iraq’s rich cultural non-Sunni and non-Islamic heritage, have been restored at a total cost of $115 million.

Following the completion of the project, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay visited Mosul to witness the restored landmarks firsthand.

Reviving Mosul’s architectural heritage 

According to a statement from UNESCO, the restoration project, titled “Revive the Spirit of Mosul,” was officially completed on February 5. The initiative focused on restoring the Al-Nouri Mosque, a 12th-century structure famous for its leaning minaret. The mosque was destroyed in 2017, the same year Mosul was liberated from IS.

The second site to undergo restoration was Al-Tahira Church (Syriac: Yoldath Aloho Church), a Syriac Catholic church built in 1862. The third was Al-Saa’a Church, a landmark clock-tower constructed in 1870. The extensive restoration project began in 2018 and aimed to bring these sites back to their former glory.

A city scarred by conflict

The initiative was launched as a response to the destruction and looting carried out by ISIS. During their cruel occupation, IS–terrorists not only demolished historic churches but also re–purposed many of them as military bases, weapons storage facilities, and detention centers. In addition to religious sites, hundreds of homes in Mosul’s Old City—some dating back to 1535—were reduced to rubble. The city’s infrastructure, archaeological sites, and historical archives suffered extensive damage.

The UNESCO-led project was made possible through funding from the European Union and the United Arab Emirates, with contributions from approximately 1,300 local residents. An official inauguration ceremony for the restored sites is expected to be announced in the coming months.