The next phase of the restoration of a historic minaret and churches in the Iraqi city of Mosul, which were devastated when ISIS took control of the area, will begin within weeks through a joint project carried out by the UAE and Unesco, the UN agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
Conservationists have for three years been preparing the site of the Al Hadba minaret, part of Al Nouri Mosque, as well as Al Saa’a and Al Tahera churches in an effort to revive Mosul’s old city, the majority of which was destroyed in the ISIS era.
ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi famously announced the creation of his so-called caliphate from Al Nouri mosque. The 800-year-old landmark and its famed leaning minaret were destroyed as one of the group’s last acts upon leaving Mosul in 2017.
Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, thanked the many engineers and conservationists involved in the project, which she said would benefit the estimated 1.7 million residents of Iraq’s second-largest city.
“The progress made on this project strengthens the resolve of the community and aids in bolstering the local economy by instilling confidence and engaging Iraqis in rebuilding their historical treasures,” Ms Al Kaabi said in the Unesco statement.
During preparations, researchers made significant “archaeological discoveries” under Al Nouri Mosque, which served to raise “our understanding of this historic monument”, Ms Al Kaabi added.
“Consultations are under way to finalise the design of the mosque, incorporating these precious discoveries,” the minister said.
Audrey Azoulay, Unesco’s director-general, will travel to Mosul when reconstruction begins in March, the UN agency for culture, education and science said in a statement on Tuesday.
Unesco had initially partnered with the UAE to rebuild Al Nouri Mosque and Al Hadba minaret, though the project was expanded to include the damaged churches. The agency has also partnered with the EU to rebuild 122 historic houses.
Work started on the sites towards the end of 2018, but involved the clearing of rubble and removal of “booby traps, hazardous materials and unexploded ordinance” that were left over after the ISIS extremists were pushed out, Unesco said.
Excavation work at Al Nouri Mosque revealed four rooms, water basins and drainage channels that were likely used for ritual ablutions. The coins, jars and fragments of pottery found suggest the rooms date from about the 12th century during the Atabeg period.
The removal of old stones from the damaged sites uncovered “valuable pieces” that will be used in the reconstruction, the UN agency said. The project brought international experts together with University of Mosul archaeology students.
Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, an assistant Unesco director-general, said “large numbers of youths” were involved in reconstruction work in a nation where high unemployment rates, particularly among the young, have given rise to protests.
The Great Mosque has always held a deep significance for Mosul residents and Iraqis in general. The leaning minaret became popularly known as Al Hadba, or “the hunchback”, and the image of the mosque features on the Iraqi 10,000 dinar note.
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Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
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UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
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UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running: