UN: Perpetrators of al-Nuri mosque, Hadba minaret destruction to be held accountable
The UN Human Rights Office denounced the demolition of the 828-year-old mosque and minaret in the Old City of Mosul, blaming the Islamic State (IS) for the attack.
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The United Nations’ Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday condemned the destruction of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and Hadba minaret in Mosul’s Old City.
In an official statement, the UN Human Rights Office denounced the demolition of the 828-year-old mosque and minaret in the Old City of Mosul on June 21, blaming the Islamic State (IS) for the attack.
“Reports indicate that it was blown up deliberately by [IS] as Iraqi security forces were approaching,” the statement said.
“This destruction is the latest in a long line of such horrendous acts by [IS], which has targeted landmark religious sites, including churches, mosques, shrines, tombs, and graves,” the report continued.
“Such intentional destruction is an attack on the religious and cultural heritage of the Iraqi people – and the whole world,” the UN statement added.
The report also mentioned the perpetrators of the attack could be held accountable for war crimes, as such acts are prohibited under international law.
On Friday, IS extremists released a video showing the destruction of the Nuri mosque and Hadba minaret, claiming the historical sites were destroyed by a US-led coalition airstrike.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany