850 years of history – destroyed.

Only two years ago, the iconic Jaami’ Al-Noori and the Hadbaa minaret were demolished during the terrorist attacks in Mosul, Iraq. The leaning Hadbaa minaret (منارة الحدباء) stood tall and proud in the ancient city since 1172, decorated with beautiful, intricate details carefully crafted by loving hands. The destruction of this landmark was and is a disastrous tragedy. As the minaret crumbled, so too did the identity of the city, the country, and it’s people. But just like most tragedies in the land of Iraq, it is one that the majority of people have never heard of. So before you passionately mourn the fire which burnt part of the Notre Dame in France, remember the leaning tower of Mosul. Don’t let the media decide what you should care about and what you should ignore for you. Make that decision for yourself.

Truthfully, the real tragedy is not found only in the annihilation of such sites, but in the mass oblivion to these tragedies.