The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continues its destruction of Iraq’s historic city Mosul. ISIS recently destroyed the Nabi Yunus shrine, built on the reputed burial site of a prophet, known in the Koran as ‘Yunus’ and in the Bible as ‘Jonah’.
Till now ISIS has destroyed over 30 shrines around Mosul and 15 husseiniyas and mosques till now.
The destroyed shrine was built in the eighth century BC. Worshippers believe that the prophet Jonah, most famous for surviving after being swallowed by a whale in the Biblical legend, is buried there. Saddam Hussein renovated the shrine, and thereon, it continues to be popular site for pilgrims.
Most of Mosul’s Christian population has been driven away by ISIS (they forced them to convert to Islam, pay a protection tax, or die), thus ending a Muslim-Christian community that spanned 2,000 years.
—Nishant Kumar Azad with inputs from agencies
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