Al-Sarraji Mosque (Arabic: جامع السراجي) is an ancient historical mosque located in the Abi al-Khasib district in Basra, Iraq. Al-Sarraji Mosque is characterized by its ancient heritage and archaeological architecture and is distinguished by its luxurious archaeological minaret built of ancient bricks.[1] The mosque is registered with UNESCO on the list of heritage places.[2]
On July 14, 2023, al-Sarraji Mosque was demolished in order to widen Abi al-Khasib Street in response to the demands of citizens and vehicle owners, due to the severe crowds being in the middle of the street. This move caused great controversy among Iraqis and activists criticized the government their failure to protect Iraq's heritage and culture.[3] Although there have been proposals to reconstruct the mosque.[4]
Historical background
Establishment and significance
The mosque was constructed in 1727, sources indicate that it was restored by Abd al-Wahhab Pasha in 1902 from adobe and mud on an area of 1900 square meters. In the 20th century and specifically the 1980s, the mosque benefited from various donations that funded its restoration which made it a significant part of the local community’s cultural and historical landscape. Al-Sarraji Mosque saw its last renovation and reconstruction at the expense of the philanthropist “Umm Hamid Al-Tuwaijri” in 2002. Al-Sarraji Mosque used to be one of the largest mosques in Basra and was nicknamed "The Great Basra Mosque" before the construction of the Great Basra Mosque. The five daily prayers, the Friday prayers, and the two Eid prayers are held in the mosque.[1][5] It was also called the Mosque of Minawi Lijm al-Kabir, because the area was named village of Minawi Lijam before its expansion.[6]
Its minaret is regarded as one of the last Islamic minarets of its kind in Basra, the other being al-Kawaz Mosque.[7][8] The minaret predates both the Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower.[2] It includes a spacious chapel with a width of 18 meters and a length of 11 meters, which makes it one of the largest mosques in Basra in area.[9]
Controversy over demolition
Al-Sarraji Mosque in the 1960s.
In 2022, Iraqi media reported that al-Sarraji Mosque was being threatened with demolition, following an agreement between the Sunni Endowment Office and the local government in Basra, in order to expand the tourist routes. However the Director of Media of the Sunni Endowment, Mahmoud al-Qaisi, said that the office cannot do such approvals. Nevertheless, there have been many calls to stop the destruction of the mosque and many Iraqis took to social media to raise awareness and express their anger and dissatisfaction. Some noted how other countries preserve their heritage, civilization, and culture except Iraq which keeps getting demolished.[10] It was also discovered that the minaret was skewed at an angle of 20 degrees, which made it liable to fall.[6]
On the Friday morning of July 14th, 2023, the local government in Basra Governorate began the process of demolishing and removing al-Sarraji Mosque in order to complete the expansion of the Abu al-Khasib coastal road and due to citizen complaints despite the popular rejection of the idea. The governor of Basra, Asaad al-Eidani, stated that the mosque will be rebuilt in a different location.[11][12][13][14] Some criticized the governor for not thinking of another solution like building a tunnel under it.[2] In response, the Ministry of Culture expressed its anger at the demolition of the ancient mosque noting that it will take legal measures to protect the cultural heritage from any transgression, stressing that the local government in Basra ignored the ministry's proposals to avoid demolishing the mosque.[7][15][16]
This event caused great controversy in Iraq and many flocked to social media to express their anger and criticize the government for demolishing the mosque. The demolition was called a "crime", legal violation, cultural shock, sectarian challenge, and civilizational sabotage, and many called for legal measures to be taken to protect any building that bears a heritage or archaeological feature, whether religious or civil, in Iraq that has been suffering from neglect for years. It was also theorized by some that the demolition was on purpose in order to destroy Iraq's heritage.[3][9][17]
As the situation evolved, questions have been raised about the balance between urban development and the preservation of cultural heritage. It was noted that the urban expansions, while usually considered necessary for progress and convenience, it also costs the erasure of historical landmarks that Iraq is famous for. Thus, the controversy was compared to many similar events around the world that involve tension between urbanization and preservation.[citation needed]
On July 15, 2023, the governor addressed the Ministry of Planning, requesting that the project for the construction of al-Sarraji Mosque must be included in the budget of the Petro-Dula at a cost of one billion and eighty-seven million Iraqi dinars for the benefit of the Sunni Endowment Office, and mentioned in their request that the mosque project includes a courtyard, health and service accessories, and classes for teaching the Qur’an. As well as a library for religious books. The Ministry claimed to restore the mosque similar to what's happening with the Great Mosque of al-Nuri.[18][19]
It was also noted that the Sunni Endowment Office was not informed of the demolishing plans and process despite not agreeing to the act.[20]
