ISIL destroys religious, cultural sites in Mosul

[flamingdem]

http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/newsbriefs/2014/09/03/newsbrief-05

The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) has destroyed two archaeological shrines and a cultural centre in Mosul, a Ninawa tribal chief said Wednesday (September 3rd).

"ISIL elements have blown up the shrine of Abdullah al-Hassani, an old Sufi scholar of Ninawa, and the shrine of Imam al-Baher -- two important archaeological landmarks located in western Mosul," Ninawa tribal council deputy head Ibrahim al-Hassan told Al-Shorfa.

"They also have blown up a cultural centre known as the Popular Poetry Forum," he said.

The bombings caused cracks to appear in nearby homes, as well as "big losses to nearby shops", al-Hassan said.

"Popular outrage with ISIL has reached high levels because ISIL elements are deliberately destroying all of the city's cultural landmarks under false pretexts and lies," he added.

ISIL has demolished a large number of historical landmarks in Mosul and elsewhere in Iraq and Syria, including the tomb of the Prophet Yunus and the statue of Arab poet Abu Tammam.

Unverified photo of ISIL element destroying grave of Prophet Younus at Younus Mosque in Mosul, Iraq.