The demolition of a 300-year-old minaret in Iraq's southern city of Basra has sparked outrage among locals, religious figures, and cultural authorities. The Siraji minaret, which stood tall for centuries, was torn down to make way for a road expansion project, leading to widespread condemnation of the further erosion of Iraq's cultural heritage.
Constructed in 1727, the 11-meter (36 ft) brown mud-brick spire adorned with turquoise ornaments crumbled to the ground as a bulldozer bulldozed the mosque at dawn on July 14. While plans to remove the minaret to alleviate traffic congestion were known to religious and cultural authorities, including the Sunni Muslim endowment and antiquities officials, they expected it to be preserved and relocated rather than destroyed.
The destruction has left local residents and heritage conservationists deeply saddened. Basra resident Majed al Husseini expressed his dismay and stood amidst the rubble of the demolished mosque, a poignant reminder of the loss.
"All peoples preserve their heritage and history, and here they destroy our history and heritage?" Basra resident Majed al Husseini stated.
Iraq boasts a rich cultural heritage, dating back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia and its Islamic history. However, much of this heritage has suffered neglect and damage due to years of conflict, including the atrocities committed by the Islamic State. Now, with the ongoing building boom in Baghdad and plans to expand infrastructure across the country, there are growing concerns that the remaining cultural treasures will be destroyed.
Culture Minister Ahmed al-Badrani denounced the demolition, stating that he had not authorized the destruction of the Siraji Mosque's minaret. He emphasized that local antiquities authorities had reached an agreement with the governor to relocate the minaret rather than destroy it. The Ministry of Culture intends to salvage and preserve the remains of the minaret while reconstructing a model, similar to the ongoing efforts to rebuild Mosul's Al-Nuri Mosque, which was destroyed by the Islamic State in 2017.
Basra Governor Asaad Al Eidani, who personally oversaw the demolition, defended the move, arguing that the Sunni endowment and antiquities authorities failed to dismantle and relocate the minaret despite being granted more than a year to do so. He claimed that they were recently notified about the imminent destruction but did not protest. The governor plans to construct a new mosque in place of the demolished one.
Mohammed Munla, the former head of Basra's Sunni endowment, refuted the governor's claims, stating that his organization had not agreed to the demolition and relocation plans. Munla revealed that they had, in fact, agreed with the governor to find a company that could handle the relocation process. Shortly after speaking with Reuters, Munla was relieved of his duties, raising concerns about potential interference or pressure.
At the time of reporting, the Sunni endowment had not responded to requests for comment.
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