Paris, 21 October 2020 - A key step forward was achieved during the Joint Steering Committee for the reconstruction of Mosul monumental landmarks, Al-Nouri Mosque, in particular. It was agreed that UNESCO launches the International Architectural Competition for the selection of the design of the Al-Nouri Mosque Complex in early November 2020.
The Committee's virtual meeting was chaired by Ernesto Ottone R., UNESCO's Assistant Director General for Culture, and took place with the participation of H.E. Saad Kambash, President of the Sunni Waqf of Iraq, H.E. Hasan Nadhem, Minister of Culture of Iraq, H.E. Noura Al-Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mr Zuhair Al-Aaraji, Mayor of Mosul, as well as the Representatives of the Christian Waqf, Safaa Saffo, and of the Provincial Dominican Order, Father Olivier Poquillon.
The President of the Sunni Waqf of Iraq and the Minister of Culture of Iraq reiterated their gratitude to UNESCO and in particular, its team in Iraq for the milestones achieved. The Committee endorsed the building program for the architectural competition.
The competition will allow architects from across the world to contribute to the reconstruction of this important city. In doing so, they can help revive the spirit of Al-Nouri mosque - and the spirit of Mosul itself.
