MOSUL, Iraq — The minaret rising from the rubble, the ablution chambers brought back to light, the dome that survived the jihadists’ campaign of destruction. The splendor of this World Heritage site exerted an almost magnetic pull the moment you stepped onto the grounds of the Al-Nouri Mosque.

This was more than a place of worship being restored to its former glory. It was a symbol of rebirth for Mosul and for an Iraq that had spent years in the shadow of jihadist extremism.

Entering the site meant gaining access to one of UNESCO’s most ambitious reconstruction projects anywhere in the world — its largest since the preservation of Egypt’s Abu Simbel temples in the late 1960s.

“It is part of the broader Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative, launched in 2018, which rests on three pillars: heritage, cultural life and education. These are the driving forces behind the city’s recovery,” said Maria Rita Acetoso, senior project manager at UNESCO’s Iraq office.

The initiative encompassed several sites, including the iconic Al-Nouri Mosque and its Al-Hadba Minaret, the Notre-Dame de l’Heure Convent, the Church of Tahira, historic houses, the Aghawat Mosque and Al-Ekhlass School in the Old City. The project’s initial funding came from the United Arab Emirates, which contributed $50.4 million, followed by the European Union, which provided $38.5 million.

The History of Al-Nouri

Since its construction in the second half of the 12th century, the Al-Nouri Mosque had been known as the Great Mosque of Mosul. It had played a central role in the city’s urban life and in the development of its Old City.

In 2014, ISIS raised its black flag over the mosque, and the group’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed his so-called caliphate from its prayer hall. The final blow came in 2017, as ISIS fighters retreated. Before withdrawing, they detonated 20 explosive charges inside the prayer hall. One was later found unexploded.

Restoring Al-Nouri to its rightful place was more than an architectural challenge. It was an act of renewal, intended to help restore a sense of belonging among the people of Mosul, known as Moslawis, and reaffirm the city’s legacy as a center of cultural exchange and creativity.

The Minaret

The Al-Hadba Minaret was built in A.D. 1172 by the Seljuk ruler Nur al-Din as part of the mosque complex. It originally stood 45 meters (148 feet) tall. Its iconic name, Al-Hadba — Arabic for “the hunchback” — came into use in the 14th century, as the structure’s distinctive lean became more pronounced.

Over the centuries, other parts of the complex underwent renovations, but the minaret remained largely untouched. As a result, original elements of the medieval structure survived, preserving a landmark that had long been central to the historic city and had become a powerful symbol of its cultural identity.

The destruction of much of the minaret by ISIS in 2017 was felt as a national tragedy. During the battle to liberate Mosul, residents risked their lives by forming a human chain around the site. Their act of courage helped prevent its complete destruction.

An Archaeological Discovery

During UNESCO’s preparatory work, an extraordinary archaeological discovery came to light: four rooms, probably used for ritual ablutions, dating to the 12th century. Their existence had not previously been known.

The story began in August 2021, when the site needed to be examined to ensure that its foundations were secure. Excavations began near the prayer hall. Workers gradually uncovered the original floor of the religious complex, then discovered cavities beneath it that led to a chamber almost entirely buried under the mosque.

The archaeological find was incorporated into the reconstruction project.

“This will be the only mosque in Iraq to incorporate an archaeological section that visitors can explore along a designated route, during specific hours outside prayer times,” Acetoso explained.

Inside the Construction Site

Among the professionals working on Al-Nouri were Yamama Salih, an architect trained at the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), whom UNESCO recruited to help restore the mosque, and Omar Taqa, the site coordinator.

Taqa had a particular responsibility: helping explain what the reconstruction meant to the people of Mosul. Work had begun in 2017, after the city was liberated from ISIS, and was expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

Salih and Taqa guided us around the site, explaining the progress made and the challenges they faced each day.

“We have had to overcome a number of difficulties,” Salih said. “First, we had to reconstruct parts of the columns while respecting their original dimensions. The minaret presented another challenge: many decorative elements were lost or damaged in the explosion, so recreating them in their original form has been extremely demanding.”

Taqa recalled the controversy over the money spent on rebuilding the mosque. Critics had argued that the funds should instead have gone toward hospitals or housing.

“Now, though, everyone comes to admire the work and encourages us to keep going,” he said. “They want us to finish as soon as possible, restore the mosque to its former glory and bring back its sense of community.”

Rebuilding It as It Was

The reconstruction drew on expertise in engineering, archaeology, architecture and geology. Over the course of the project, specialists also consulted extensively with local authorities and other stakeholders.

The initial phase included structural, geological and archaeological studies. Teams of professionals and technicians worked to protect, clean and stabilize the surviving base of the minaret, which had escaped destruction.

The active reconstruction phase began in February 2022. The minaret was being rebuilt with bricks, using a technique that had not been employed for this kind of work since the 16th century. The original structure had been built largely of brick, with stone masonry at its lower base.

The team also decided to reproduce the minaret’s distinctive lean — an extraordinarily complex technical challenge. Its characteristic tilt had developed over the centuries and given rise to the name Al-Hadba, or “the hunchback,” which had become one of the minaret’s defining features.

“From a technical standpoint, we carried out a series of examinations to understand the building’s history — something like taking its medical history,” Acetoso explained. “UNESCO and the University of Mosul conducted a survey asking residents to choose between two options: rebuild the minaret as it had been, including its tilt, or preserve it as a ruin, as a reminder of what had happened.”

The result was decisive. “Ninety-four percent of the population said they wanted the monument back as it was. The community made the decision.”

The project also brought together Italian women conservators and 10 young Iraqis they trained. All 10 had graduated from the fine arts academy at the University of Mosul.

“This represents a transfer of specialized skills,” Acetoso said. “And because these young Iraqis are all from Mosul and lived through ISIS rule, the work also carries a profound sense of redemption, with great historical and social significance.”