Al-Tahira Church, Mar Thoma rose from the ashes where ISIS fell in Mosul

In Mosul, a city once devastated by ISIS war crimes and left in ruins, the restoration of al-Tahira and Mar Thoma churches stands as a lasting testament to resilience and coexistence. Reporting from the heart of Iraq’s Nineveh Governorate, Al Mayadeen English’s correspondent Siraj Ghassani revisits these centuries-old churches that were demolished, looted, and desecrated under ISIS’ rule before being rebuilt and reopened in 2017. Al-Tahira Church, dating back to the 18th century, and Mar Thoma Church, believed to be founded on the site where Saint Thomas stayed during his journey to India, now symbolize Mosul’s spiritual rebirth. Iraqi Chaldean Catholic prelate Najib Mikhael Moussa recalled the horrors that unfolded in Mosul under ISIS' control, from the destruction of holy sites to the enslavement of Yazidi women. However, he emphasized that Mosul’s message today is one of peace and reconciliation.