Egypt condemns IS Mosul attack destroying “Al Nuri” historic mosque

CAIRO – 23 June 2017: Egypt condemned on Thursday the explosion at the historic Al Nuri mosque in Iraq by the Islamic State (IS) group, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement said that this brutal behavior is not only an attack on people of Iraq but on humanity, and Egypt supports Iraq in all decisions taken to protect its heritage from being destroyed by terrorist groups.

“The deliberate destruction of cultural and archeological heritage blurs people’s history and identity; it is also considered a crime that should be confronted by the international community those who condone these actions should be punished in accordance to UN Security Council resolutions and international agreements.


Al-Hadba minaret at the Grand Mosque is seen through a building window in the old city of Mosul, Iraq June 1, 2017. REUTERS

IS militants on Wednesday blew up the Grand al-Nuri Mosque of Mosul and its famous leaning minaret, Iraq's military said in a statement, as Iraqi forces seeking to expel the group from the city closed in on the site, Reuters reported.

Iraq's Ministry of Defense said the militants detonated explosives planted inside the structures on Wednesday night. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tweeted early on Thursday that the destruction was an admission by the militants that they are losing the fight for Iraq's second-largest city, Time reported