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Al Nuri Moschee, Mossul, Photo: 1970

Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul

The Al Nuri Mosque in Mosul was commissioned in 1170 CE by the Zengid ruler Nur al-Din after the capture of Mosul, and construction was completed in 1172 CE. Structural changes were made in the 19th and 20th centuries (1860, 1942) before the mosque and its famous tilted minaret, at 60 meters the tallest in Iraq, were blown up and almost completely destroyed by IS (Islamic State) fighters on June 21, 2017.

In April 2018, an agreement for the reconstruction of the mosque and minaret was signed between UNESCO, the United Arab Emirates, and Iraq (cost: USD 50.4 million, duration: 5 years). The work was completed in 2024 (minaret) and 2025 with the inauguration of the mosque on September 1st.

Further information can be found here: Clemente-Ruiz, Aurélie, Institut du Monde Arabe (ed.): From Mosul to Palmyra: A Virtual Journey through the World Heritage Site (2019), esp. pp. 40–41.