Daesh’s (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) destruction of the iconic Al Nouri Mosque and Al Hadba minaret in Mosul is deplorable and shows their complete lack of respect for Islam. It demonstrates the level of desperation (and anger) from these extremists to wreak as much havoc on the city as possible. It is in this context that Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi has said Daesh has done this because it is losing the fight for Iraq’s second-largest city.
Al Nouri Mosque is where the leader of Daesh, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, made his one and only public appearance almost three years ago, shortly after his group declared a false ‘caliphate’ in Iraq and Syria. Daesh extremists know their days are numbered and therefore want to exact a heavy toll on Iraqi forces. They have resorted to all sorts of outrageous tactics like the use of citizens as human shields and planting bombs and explosives in various locations.
The reality is that Mosul has suffered from a lot of violence and atrocities by Daesh, which have been fuelled by sectarian tension and hatred. It is going to take Iraq a long time to recover from this ugly period of terror.
The first step is for the Iraqi government to prove to the people of Mosul, where Daesh held sway for nearly three years, and beyond, that it is building an inclusive Iraq.
The country’s political stability depends on Al Abadi government’s ability to get rid of all signs of sectarianism and make security and stability top priorities.
In the long run, the Iraqi government must also focus on how they can address Daesh’s historical crimes and ultimately preserve the country’s cultural and religious heritage.
