Rehabilitating Heritage After ISIS: Economic, Sociocultural, and Historical Considerations in the Case Studies of Al-Nouri Mosque, Al-Hadba Minaret, and Lalish Temple

Abstract

This paper explores three case studies of the Al-Nouri Mosque, Al-Hadba Minaret, and Lalish Temple in the aftermath of the ISIS war of 2014–17 and the occupation of Nineveh governorate. It analyses the role of these sites as part of northern Iraq’s heritage and the mechanisms in place for their reconstruction and preservation.

The paper explores the role of the different actors and how these have influenced different understandings of heritage and therefore different responses and approaches to restoration. It argues for the role that international organisations such as UNESCO have in monitoring reconstruction processes, as well as the role of international aid in heritage protection, along with the importance of community consultations and of responding to the needs of affected communities in the rehabilitation process.