Reconstructing Mosul : Occupation, destruction and rebuilding

Abstract

Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, has great historical and cultural significance. After Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi used Mosul’s Al Nuri Mosque to declare the caliphate in 2014, the city was captured and occupied by the Islamic State. After a fierce battle, the city was liberated in 2017, however, large parts of the city, including most of the old city, were completely destroyed. Currently, the city is undergoing reconstruction. This book focuses on that reconstruction by zooming in on the cultural heritage sites, the residential areas and the camps outside of the city where former residents now live, awaiting their return to the city. This book shines a light on how certain projects are prioritized, how other projects are neglected or postponed, and the consequences for the city’s residents.