Connecting the local with the global
Photo essay: An Armenian church in Mosul after liberation from ISIS
By Ali Y. Al-Baroodi
One story of Mosul today can be told through a church in ancient Mosul that was once used by ISIS to lash people and confiscate satellite channel receivers and dishes. A photo essay shows an exterior view of the church in Maydan district, one of the oldest districts in Mosul. It was near where ISIS made its last stand and was liberated in July 2017. ISIS used this church after capturing the city in June 2014. It was a headquarters of the Hisba, the notorious morality police. It was also used as a place where people were lashed for breaking ISIS laws, such as shaving their beards, watching TV, singing or having long trousers.
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In one of the photos we can see writing on the front door that says "no access for women here", "receiving satellite receivers", "no food for public" "Islamic State Property", "no food stuffs". In another part of the church I photographed some of the satellite dishes. There was also a list of food rations for ISIS members still hanging in the church and it showed how much they received, including rice, cooking oil, tomato paste, peas, lentils, washing powder and sugar, which provides us a snapshot of the daily life of ISIS members. Civilians in Mosul were starving during ISIS occupation and ISIS was not handing out food to the civilians. I also filmed footage to give more details.The video appears at the bottom of the page.
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