ALIPH in Iraq

Abstract

Iraq is the raison d’être of ALIPH, and since the organization became operational in Geneva in September 2018, the foundation has supported more than 40 projects in Iraq. Combined, these projects have the goal to rehabilitate monuments and sites, safeguard museums and their collections, preserve and enhance written heritage, protect intangible heritage, and combat looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property. ALIPH is able to carry out its mission to help protect Iraqi heritage thanks to its close working relationships with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, with whom the Foundation shares a common holistic approach toward safeguarding and conserving heritage from its roots, stretching back thousands of years, to its future.

1 Cradle of Civilization

Iraq stands as a living testament to the fascinating intersections of cultures, beliefs, and traditions that have shaped the region’s identity over thousands of years. With a history spanning ancient Mesopotamia, the rise and fall of great empires, and the emergence of Islam, Iraqi cultural heritage is a mosaic of influences from the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, and Arabs, and countless others.

Iraq is widely regarded as the “Cradle of Civilization” due to its association with the first human settlements and the development of advanced civilizations. The fertile lands between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers provided the foundation for the Sumerian and Babylonian civilizations, notably, the birthplace of the written form.

Iraq is also home to myriad religious traditions, making it a significant hub of spiritual diversity. Islam is the predominant religion, with both Sunni and Shia communities represented and numerous religious sites, but Iraq is also home to ancient religious communities of Christians, Yazidis, Mandaeans, and others, each contributing to the rich tapestry of religious practices and beliefs that form a part of Iraqi patrimony.

Cultural heritage is a fundamental element of Iraqi identity. It shapes the sense of belonging, instilling shared historical narratives that transcend individual differences. Thanks to this richness, Iraq can boast architectural marvels that showcase the ingenuity of its ancient civilizations. The Ziggurat of Borsippa, the Mashki Gate (Nineveh), the monumental Arch of Ctesiphon (Taq Kasra), and the ruins of Hatra, to name but a few examples, are enduring symbols of the grandeur and sophistication of Iraq’s architectural heritage. Islamic architecture further enriches the country’s cultural landscape, reinforcing the connection between modern Iraqis and their ancestors and fostering a deep-rooted sense of heritage and pride (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Arch of Ctesiphon—December 2021—© ALIPH—Azhar al-Rubaie

2 Iraq, the Raison D’être of ALIPH

While the diversity and richness of Iraqi culture are at the heart of its appeal and fascination throughout the world, they have also, sadly, fallen victim to devastation and destruction during the recent conflicts that have affected the country. Over the last few decades, this priceless heritage has suffered immensely from terrorism, war, and instability.

The devastating attacks perpetrated by Daesh against heritage in Iraq have had profound consequences, not just for the country but for the entire world. These acts of deliberate destruction, sadly echoing similar acts perpetrated in Mali, have marked a turning point of profound and multidimensional significance—heritage has transformed from a collateral victim in conflict to an effective weapon of war.

This destruction is an intentional attempt to erase culture, and by doing so, eradicate the essential elements of a country’s historical identity. Further, it is also cynically used as a propaganda weapon, through the broadcasting of videos designed to illustrate the violence, power, and determination of terrorist groups. In addition, these acts of destruction can serve as a source of funding: the looting and illicit trafficking of artifacts has served terrorist groups as a financial resource and can strengthen their position and influence.

This massive destruction of heritage in the Sahel and the Middle East has left the world in turmoil. Given the scale of the task and the need for an emergency mechanism, the United Arab Emirates and France took initiative and decided to create a new foundation: the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, ALIPH.

Iraq is therefore the raison d’être of ALIPH, and since the organization became operational in Geneva in September 2018, the foundation has supported more than 40 projects in Iraq. Combined, these projects have the goal to rehabilitate monuments and sites, safeguard museums and their collections, preserve and enhance written heritage, protect intangible heritage, and combat looting and illicit trafficking of cultural property.

3 A Tapestry of Projects

ALIPH is able to carry out its mission to help protect Iraqi heritage thanks to its close working relationships with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, with whom the Foundation shares a common holistic approach toward safeguarding and conserving heritage from its roots, stretching back thousands of years, to its future. Over the past 5 years, ALIPH has also established numerous partnerships with local and international operators and prioritizes the inclusion of local actors and communities in the development and implementation of all projects.

Heritage protection is a lever for job creation, tourism, and sustainable economic and social development. For ALIPH, protecting Iraq’s exceptional heritage also means contributing to on-the-job training, especially for young people, in the fields of construction, crafts, archaeology, and conservation. In parallel, this work is a way to contribute, whenever possible, to dialogue and reconciliation among communities torn apart by conflict.

From the conservation of the site of Hatra, the stabilization of the Arch of Ctesiphon, and the restoration of the Khan Marjan in Baghdad, all of which bear witness to the rich cultural and architectural history of Iraq, to the preservation of Iraq’s priceless written heritage, ALIPH has supported over 40 projects to protect or rehabilitate Iraqi cultural heritage since 2018. A dozen of these projects have been completed, over 20 are in the Nineveh Governorate, and 11 are in the city of Mosul.

4 Mosul Mosaic and the Mosul Museum

The city of Mosul, which means “the junction” in Arabic, has been characterized by a multi-religious and multicultural environment for centuries. From 2014 to 2017, Mosul fell prey to violent extremism, leaving the city and its urban heritage in ruins.

In February 2018, UNESCO launched the “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” program. To contribute to this initiative, ALIPH established its “Mosul Mosaic” strategy to help preserve cultural heritage of Mosul in all its diversity. Five landmarks that have made up Mosul’s skyline for centuries are being rehabilitated under this initiative: the Al-Raabiya Mosque (operators: Archi.Media Trust Onlus, SBAH, Mosul University, Waqf authorities, University of Florence), the Al Musfa Mosque (operators: La Guilde Européenne du Raid, SBAH, Waqf authorities, and the Institut National du Patrimoine (INP)), the Mar Toma Syriac Orthodox Church (operators: Œuvre d’Orient, SBAH, the Syriac Archbishop of Mosul, INP), the Chaldean Church Al Tahira (operators: Œuvre d’Orient, SBAH, the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, INP), as well as the remarkable Tutunji House (operators: University of Pennsylvania, SBAH, Mosul University) (Figs. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2

Mar Toma Church © G. de Beaurepaire et G. de Salins, L’Oeuvre d’Orient

Fig. 3

Tutunji House © Elsa Urtizverea—ALIPH

In addition to these projects, and chief among Mosul’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, is the rehabilitation of the Mosul Cultural Museum (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4

View of the main façade of Mosul Cultural Museum from the cleared garden (2018) © SBAH

The Mosul Museum is one of the largest museums in Iraq, second only to the National Museum in Baghdad. Founded in 1952 and originally housed in the former palace of King Ghazi, it moved to its current building in 1974. In 2003, to protect the collection from potential looting, about 1,500 pieces were moved to Baghdad, where they remain until the reopening of the museum. Only monumental pieces stayed in the Mosul Museum. The Museum was attacked by looters, but the army quickly regained the control. In 2014 the Museum was occupied by Daesh. In February 2015, the extremists publicized videos showing the destruction of its artifacts. The Museum was liberated by the Iraqi army 2 years later (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5

The Mosul Museum © Elsa Urtizverea—ALIPH

In 2018, at the request of the Iraqi authorities, ALIPH initiated the rehabilitation of the Museum. This ambitious initiative—one of ALIPH most important project to date—is carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities of Iraq, the State Board for Antiquities and Heritage and the Mosul Museum. The Louvre Museum is responsible for restoring the collection and creating new museography, and the Smithsonian Institution conducted the first technical assessment of the situation and is leading the capacity building for the Museum staff. In the first stage of the project (2018–19), immediate stabilization measures were implemented, including removing unexploded ordnance from the roof, shoring up collapsing floors, and securing the building. The objects and fragments in the collection were sorted, cleaned, documented, and stored. In 2020, despite the pandemic, the conservation of the artifacts progressed. The Musée du Louvre prepared and carried out remote training in conservation techniques for the museum staff. In 2021, World Monuments Fund joined the consortium as a partner responsible for the rehabilitation of the Museum’s building. ALIPH finances each component of this project and provides significant scientific and technical oversight across all activities. Closed since 2003, the project aims to have the Museum reopen in 2026.

The building, an important piece of Iraqi cultural heritage in its own right, is today a symbol of life overcoming ruin. It is a physical reminder of how peace and sustainable development can prevail over acts of violence and inhumanity.

The project to rehabilitate this building and its collections is extraordinary in its scope, in the sheer number of technical challenges that are being overcome, and in how people of different nationalities, languages, and identities have come together to achieve a common mission.

This museum was once home to a collection of artifacts that showcased the long and rich history of the Northern Iraq Region and—more broadly—of all of Mesopotamia. Before our very eyes, this extraordinary collection was savagely ransacked by Daesh. While the purpose of that targeted destruction might have been to erase millennia of history, these artifacts are now proudly rising from the ashes, almost literally, thanks to the exceptional work and expertise of the restorers and the commitment of the Mosul Museum team. Those images of destruction, as tragic as they were violent, are gradually giving way, fragment by fragment, to a vision of a brighter future.

If Daesh thought they had accomplished their mission, then the mobilization of this multidisciplinary teams from Iraq and abroad, is proving them wrong. Not only will this museum once again tell the multi-millennial history of the region, but it will also bear the scars of a recent war in which heritage was counted among the victims and will live on as a testament to humanity’s will to overcome tragedy (Fig. 6).

Fig. 6

The Mosul Museum © Elsa Urtizverea—ALIPH

“As representatives of the Heritage Department, we are happy to see that the Louvre Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the United Arab Emirates, France, and other countries are willing to contribute to the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the militia. We have a sense of pride in this land, which is important not just for the Iraqi people, or us—the employees, but also for the international community. It is everyone’s responsibility to save this heritage and this cultural identity,” said Zaid Ghazi Saadallah the Director of the Museum during a press conference in May 2023 to announce the beginning of the building’s rehabilitation and its reopening in 2026.

5 Sites and Discoveries

The former caravan city of Hatra (northern Iraq, 100 km south of Mosul), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reached its pinnacle between the second and third century CE, as a religious center for the cult of Shamash, the God of the Sun. For centuries it was the focus of bitter conflicts between Rome, the declining empire of the Parthians, and the rising Sasanid Empire. At the beginning of 2015, the archaeological area came under Daesh occupation when it was used for military training, and its artifacts were targeted by jihadist militants. The most irreplaceable and unique Hatrene art was vandalized and severely damaged, and its destruction broadcast around the world by Daesh: acts declared a “war crime” by UNESCO. The site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger on 1 July 2015.

Since 2017, ALIPH has been supporting an Italian-Iraqi scientific team that was the first to enter the site after the occupation by Daesh. The mission—composed of archaeologists and architects led by Prof. M. Vidale (University of Padua) and Prof. S. Campana (University of Siena), working under the aegis of ISMEO (International Association for Mediterranean and Eastern Studies—Rome), in partnership with the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq, the University of Padua and the University of Siena—has now thoroughly documented and mapped the site of over 700 hectares using drone imagery. In addition, fragments of the vandalized sculptures have been recovered and secured. The most spectacular discovery was fragments from large sculpted heads that had decorated the facade of the sanctuary dedicated to the God of the Sun. Their brutal destruction was widely disseminated on social media by Daesh. The larger fragments of the sculptures fit perfectly, making it possible to restore and relocate them back to their original position (Fig. 7).

Fig. 7

Hatra—ALIPH visit—May 2023 © Vincent Boisot

In addition, ALIPH supported two projects in Mosul and the Nineveh region that have led to significant archaeological discoveries. A project implemented by the University of Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the State Board for Antiquities and Heritage and Mosul University, to reconstruct the exceptional Mashki Gate in Mosul—one of the monumental gates of Nineveh—uncovered eight reliefs from the era of the Assyrian King Sinharib (705 to 681 BCE) in late 2022.

In Faida, north Kurdistan, a project conducted by the University of Udine together with the Directorate of Antiquities of Duhok, led to the discovery of ten monumental rock reliefs dating from the eighth-century BCE and depicting the ruler and great gods of Assyria. This discovery was awarded the prestigious 2020 International Archaeological Discovery Award “Khaled al-Asaad.” Other large-scale projects have been implemented with ALIPH’s support in the Nineveh Governorate, such as the restoration of the Mar Behnam monastery and several Yezidi temples in Sinjar.

6 Conclusion

Even if the Foundation counts, to date, over 400 projects in 35 countries on four continents, ALIPH’s engagement in Iraq remains a priority.

By swiftly responding to emergencies, funding rehabilitation projects, protecting manuscripts, intangible heritage, and putting together all the scientific knowledge of national and international experts, ALIPH has the ambition and the strong conviction that it plays a critical role in peacebuilding and economic and sustainable development. However, the journey is far from over, and continued support, cooperation, and long-term sustainable strategies are essential to secure Iraq’s cultural legacy for future generations. ALIPH’s commitment stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership in protecting the shared heritage of humanity in the face of adversity.

7 About ALIPH

The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) is the main global fund exclusively dedicated to the protection and rehabilitation of cultural heritage in conflict zones and post-conflict situations. It was created in 2017 in response to the massive destruction of cultural heritage over the past two decades due to terrorism and conflict, predominantly in the Middle East and the Sahel. ALIPH is a public–private partnership assembling various countries and private donors. Based in Geneva, this Swiss foundation also benefits from the privileges and immunities of an international organization thanks to a headquarters agreement signed with the Swiss Confederation. To date, ALIPH has supported about 430 projects in 35 countries on four continents. ALIPH finances concrete projects carried on the ground, hand-in-hand with local partners, authorities, and communities. Its mission places cultural heritage protection as a central contributor to peace and sustainable development.