UNESCO CHAIR For Inter-Religious Dialogue Studies in The Islamic World
The UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa participated in the Culture Week titled “Mosul Heritage and ISIS Prisons”, held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. The event was organized under the patronage of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq and the Permanent Delegation of Iraq to UNESCO. It was attended by Dr. Ahmed Fakak Al-Badrani, Minister of Culture of Iraq, Mr. Jing Kiu, UNESCO Deputy Director-General, ambassadors, permanent representatives, and Dr. Alaa Shatnan, Director of the UNESCO Chair at the University of Kufa.
The opening session featured remarks by the Iraqi Minister of Culture and UNESCO’s Deputy Director-General, both emphasizing the historical and cultural significance of Mesopotamia and the city of Mosul. They also highlighted UNESCO’s ongoing efforts through the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative. A representative from the ISIS Prisons Foundation expressed appreciation to the organizers and elaborated on the initiative’s objectives.
A key highlight of the event was the inauguration of the art exhibition, “Three Walls: A Spatial Narrative of Old Mosul”, curated by the Digital Museum of ISIS Prisons. The exhibition employed digital storytelling and virtual tours to narrate the history of Mosul and its architectural heritage. It shed light on the city’s rich legacy, which faced extensive destruction under ISIS’s occupation, with many significant sites repurposed as prisons and detention centers. The exhibition will remain open for an entire week.
The Culture Week concluded with a musical performance by UNESCO Artist for Peace and renowned oud virtuoso Naseer Shamma. His compositions, inspired by Iraq’s heritage, paid homage to the cultural and artistic traditions of Mosul.
