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"Mosul's Nabi Yunus Mosque hosted its first congregational prayers since reconstruction, over a decade after it was destroyed by ISIS militants during their occupation of the city. Footage shows worshippers gathering at the mosque for Friday prayers. Footage also reveals the restored complex, including its courtyard, garden, fountain and renovated interior and exterior spaces. "This mosque [...] is a testament to the resilience of the people of Nineveh, [...] and the determination of the people of Nineveh to rise from the rubble and rebuild," said Mohammed Haris, member of the Nineveh Provincial Council. One local, Amro Salah al-Din, described the reconstruction as 'truly heartening,' praising the attention to detail and decorative elements reflecting Mosul's history. The mosque's imam, Muhammad al-Shammaa, said ISIS militants "blew up this mosque and the rest of the mosques in Mosul with a mentality I can't even begin to describe." He added that the people of Mosul had shown 'remarkable' determination in rebuilding what was destroyed, noting that reconstruction was funded through local donations. Iraqi media previously reported that the mosque was reopened following reconstruction, 11 years after it was bombed by ISIS militants. The reopening comes as Mosul and Iraq's Nineveh province continue a broad reconstruction drive targeting archaeological, religious and public sites, amid widespread public support for restoring the city's historical character. The 'Reviving the Spirit of Mosul' initiative was launched after the city's liberation from ISIS in 2017, with support from UNESCO and funding from the United Arab Emirates. It focuses on restoring several of Mosul's historic mosques and churches. Mosul suffered extensive devastation during ISIS's occupation from 2014, with around 80% of the Old City destroyed and thousands of rare books and manuscripts looted or lost."
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