Next Saturday .. Abadi will announce the liberation of Mosul in full

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39339373............

Why Mosul’s Great Mosque of al-Nuri matters

• 21 March 2017
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• From the sectionMiddle East

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Image copyrightREUTERS Image captionThe black flag of so-called Islamic State is still flying from the Great Mosque's minaret

Islamic State

• Battle for Mosul: The story so far
• Islamic State group: The full story
• Is so-called Islamic State finished?
• Islamic State and the crisis in Iraq and Syria in maps

Iraqi government forces are closing in on the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul.

With its leaning minaret, it is one of the most famous landmarks in the Old City. But it is also of great symbolic importance in the government's battle against the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), which seized control of the city in June 2014.

The mosque is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made a rare public appearance the following month and gave a speech proclaiming the creation of a new "caliphate".

The Great Mosque is named after Nur al-Din Mahmoud Zangi, a Turkic ruler of Mosul and Aleppo who ordered its construction in 1172, two years before his death.

Nur al-Din is famous for mobilising and unifying Muslim forces to wage jihad, or war in the path of God, against the Christian Crusaders.

During his 28-year rule, Nur al-Din captured Damascus and laid the foundations for the success of Saladin, who served as his commander in Egypt before founding the Ayyubid dynasty and retaking Jerusalem in 1187.

Nur al-Din is also revered by jihadists for his efforts to make Sunni Muslim orthodoxy prevail over Shiism.

Despite its connection to such an illustrious figure, all that remains from the original mosque is the leaning minaret, some columns and the mihrab, a niche indicating the direction of Mecca.

The cylindrical minaret is covered with elaborate brickwork inspired by Iranian designs and topped with a small, white-plastered dome.

At the time of its completion, the minaret was 45m (150ft) high. But by the time the Ibn Battuta visited Mosul in the 14th Century, the minaret was already leaning significantly and had acquired its nickname - "al-Hadba", or "the humpback".

Image copyrightLIBRARY OF CONGRESS Image captionUnesco has warned that the Hadba minaret - pictured here in 1932 - is at risk of collapse

The cause of the tilt is not fully known. According to local tradition, the minaret bowed to the Prophet Muhammad as he passed overhead while ascending to heaven, ignoring the fact that he died centuries before it was built.

But experts believe it is caused by the prevailing north-westerly winds, the effect of the sun on the bricks on the southern side, or the weak gypsum used to hold the bricks together.

Bombs that struck Mosul during the Iran-Iraq War also broke underground pipes near the base of the minaret, allowing sewage to collect in pools and weaken the foundations.

In 2012, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) calculated that the minaret was leaning 2.5m (8.3ft) off the perpendicular axis, and warned it was suffering from serious structural weakness and at risk of collapse.

On 2 June 2014, the agency announced that it had begun a conservation programme with the Nineveh provincial government that was aimed at stabilising the minaret.

Image copyrightAP Image captionThe Great Mosque's imam was reportedly killed by IS militants days after the overran Mosul

But later that week, deadly clashes erupted in Mosul as militants from what was then known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil or Isis) launched a surprise assault.

After overrunning the city, they swept southwards towards the capital Baghdad, seizing control of much of the provinces of Nineveh, Salahuddin and Diyala within a matter of days.

On 12 June, militants summarily killed the imam of the Grand Mosque, Mohammed al-Mansouri, for refusing to join them, according to the UN.

At the end of June, Isis formally declared the establishment of a "caliphate" - a state governed in accordance with Sharia by God's deputy on Earth, or caliph.

It named Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as Caliph Ibrahim and demanded allegiance from Muslims worldwide. The group renamed itself Islamic State, dropping the mention of Iraq and the Levant.

Image copyrightREUTERS Image captionAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the creation of a new "caliphate" at the mosque in 2014

On 4 July, Baghdadi delivered a Friday sermon from the pulpit at the Great Mosque of al-Nuri - his first public appearance in many years.

Dressed in a black robe and black turban - a signal that he claims to be descended from the Prophet Muhammad's Quraysh tribe, a crucial qualification for the office - Baghdadi said he had reluctantly accepted the title of "commander of the faithful".

"God, the Great and Almighty, has bestowed upon your mujahideen brothers the grace of victory and conquest, and has enabled them to do that after long years of waging jihad, showing patience, and fierce fighting against the enemies of God," he added. "They have hurried to declare the caliphate and empower an imam. This is the duty imposed on the Muslims."

Echoing the inaugural address by the first caliph, his namesake Abu Bakr, Baghdadi stressed that he was "not the best among you", adding: "If you see that I am right, help me. However, if you see that I am wrong, advise and guide me."

Image copyrightAFP Image captionMosul residents said IS militants had once attempted to blow up the Hadba minaret

Mosul residents said the congregation were ordered to attend the Friday service, searched thoroughly on arrival and told where and how to sit.

And at the end of July, residents complained that IS militants had attempted to blow up the Hadba minaret as part of an effort to destroy shrines and tombs revered by Muslims or non-Muslims that the jihadist group considers idolatrous.

Two residents said that when militants arrived at the Great Mosque carrying high explosives, a crowd rushed to the courtyard and linked arms to form a human chain around the minaret.

The militants reportedly backed down and left once the witnesses warned the fighters: "If you blow up the minaret, you will have to kill us too."

The residents were sure the militants would return, but the minaret is still standing as Iraqi police units advance towards it as part of an offensive to retake Mosul that was launched by the government in October 2016.

Related Topics

• Iraq
• Islamic State group

 

[DinarThug]

13 minutes ago, DinarThug said:

This Article Clarifies That The Liberation Is In The Historic Old City Of Mosul Where ISIS Originally Declared Their Caliphate !

 

 

 

(by don961)

Thanks successwithf79

 

Abadi to declare Mosul 'completely liberated' next Saturday

 

April 27 2017 09:54 AM

Abadi

Mostapha Hassan

 

Iraq's city of Mosul will be declared 'fully liberated' from the clutches of ISIS terror group next Saturday, sources close to Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Thursday.

The Iraqi flag will be raised, and the last bullet will be fired there by Abadi himself, they added.

Few parts in the city are now under the control of ISIS. And they are about to be liberated, the sources further noted.

Nineveh provincial council member Hossam al-Abar said that the Old City of Mosul and the Grand Mosque of Nuri were the starting point of the self-styled caliphate of the terrorists, and the security forces will annihilate the terrorists at the same areas.

Few neighborhoods are remaining in the hands of ISIS, including the districts of al-Maqbara, al-Senaat, and al-Tahrir which is adjacent to 17th of July neighborhood and Street 60 completely encircled by the army's 9th division, he added.

The official yet indicated that if the Old City of Mosul is fully liberated, the whole city will be declared free, for this area is vital for the progress of the ongoing military operation.

Also, security expert Ahmed al-Sherifi asserted that the situation is indicative of a near end of the ongoing offensive as the operation to liberate al-Hadar neighborhood is preclude to liberating Tal-Afar which paves the way for declaring the city free of the terrorists within few days.

The expert cited the visit of the parliament speaker Selim al-Jabouri on Wednesday to the right bank of the city, saying it asserts the political presence ahead of declaring victory.

The Iraqi forces, aided by the US-led coalition, have been pushing against ISIS terrorists in the right bank of Mosul since February 19th

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/.....t-Saturday

 

 

 

[millionaire in training]

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

[Officiallytook]

And just before a three day weekend....hmm

[NoviceInvestor]

1 hour ago, millionaire in training said:

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

You sure?☺

[Freedomwish]

12 hours ago, millionaire in training said:

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

 

One can only hope!! 

[pokerplayer]

1 minute ago, Freedomwish said:

 

One can only hope!! 

 

We have a few things we are looking at for "rewards" my friend. Yes we can only hope.

 

   Cheers, pp

[10 YEARS LATER]

12 hours ago, millionaire in training said:

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

PUH-LEASE  LET IT BE TRUE     

[6ly410]

12 hours ago, millionaire in training said:

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

[davis411]

12 hours ago, millionaire in training said:

FINALLY ........           

You all know whats next right ?     RV BABY 

ok with u here mit

 

davis for president

u can be vp if your right

 

come on kids

push the damn button

[dinareffic]

4/30/17

[pokerplayer]

1 minute ago, dinareffic said:

4/30/17

 

 

I am all over that prediction dinareffec  

pp

[dinareffic]

4/30-5/2  is my prediction window.  If it doesn't happen then, I'm not worried about it cuz this WILL happen. 

[pokerplayer]

$$$

pp

[copper13]

[Goggles]

Go RV!!! Go DV!!!  

[outlawclg]

The Iraqi flag will be raised, and the last bullet will be fired there by Abadi himself, 

 

And I hope he is aiming at the RV button!

[ChuckFinley]

I hope this really does happen. It is time for these people to move on. 

[nannab]

Although it's the ex's birthday it then would be truely a blessed day for us all and the Iraqi's. 

Come on April 30, 2017 !

[Rmc10]

I'm ready for an RV!!!!!

[ChuckFinley]

2 minutes ago, nannab said:

Although it's the ex's birthday it then would be truely a blessed day for us all and the Iraqi's. 

Come on April 30, 2017 !

I am going to punch you over 3000 and it would be poetic justice for you to get a big win fall on her birthday.  

[copper13]

If my math is right? It will be Saturday in just a few more hours in Iraq? 💵💰🍺🤑

[copper13]

Let the count down begin!!!

[Rmc10]

April 30th will be their Monday and when the banks reopen right???

[TexasMike1958]

On ‎4‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 0:26 AM, Boozer said:

well now the CBI Governor said he would drop the 3 0s when this happened, we will see  if he is true to his word

do you have proof.....a post perhaps.....on that one????  Not just some idle chatter??