Artists in Mosul have waited nearly 25 years for genuine freedom and the opportunity to express their artistic passions. Over that time, their city has been the scene of persecution of the art community, first by Saddam Hussein's regime and then by Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Following the liberation of Mosul from ISIS rule in July 2017, art became a way to revitalize the city's soul and remedy extremist ideologies.

A quarter century of yearning for freedom

When Islamic State militants took Mosul in 2014, they forced women to cover themselves in black from head to toe and men to grow beards. Terrorists banned art exhibitions, burned books they considered blasphemous, and forced artists, athletes, and scientists to disavow art, sports, and science. They destroyed musical instruments, sculptures, and paintings when they declared them "haram." They also banned the consumption of alcohol, smoking, and the use of modern technology.  

However, it was not the first blow to freedom of the arts. It was preceded by the so-called Faith Campaign, launched by Saddam Hussein in 1993. Its goal was to promote Islam to counter the secularization of the state. Hussein's regime supported religious organizations, financed the construction of mosques, and introduced elements of shari'ah into the law. One of the results was the further curtailment of artistic freedom, which was already being eroded by state censorship.

Other events that contributed to the restriction of freedoms were the rise of Al-Qaeda after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 and the capture of parts of Iraqi territory by the Islamic State 11 years later. Militants of those terrorist organizations waged war against both the soldiers from Western countries and Iraqi artists, whom they accused of acting contrary to Islamic values. As a result, cultural life had to go underground. 

It is worth noting that some members of the organizations supported by the Hussein regime under the Faith Campaign later joined the ranks of Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State. The artists of Mosul came to taste artistic freedom only in July 2017 when the city was recaptured from ISIS. They waited nearly 25 years for this moment, as that's how long it took from the Faith Campaign to the liberation of their city.

The music of rebirth from the ruins

Khalid Al-Rawi is a 31-year-old oud player and music teacher. He began performing two years before the Islamic State occupied Mosul. "People intimidated me not only for my interest in music but also for having long hair," he confesses. Back then, he had to carry his oud in a bag while walking through the streets of Mosul to avoid being recognized by extremists.

After ISIS militants occupied Mosul, most of Khalid's friends destroyed their musical instruments out of fear. Khalid, however, kept his oud and played it sometimes. He describes the time of the ISIS occupation as a mentally exhausting era for artists who could not express their passion for music and other arts. 

Since the liberation of Mosul from the ISIS yoke in 2017, Khalid has been one of the best-known musicians. For Khalid, playing music in the middle of the ruins was like bringing life back to an entire city after more than two decades of terror. "The best revenge for oppression is to live in freedom. These days, everyone is more open to the art world even though the government does not invest in or support artists in Mosul," he notes. 

Five years ago, Khalid became one of the co-founders of the city's orchestra. In addition, he performs solo, including outside Iraq. He also teaches music classes to young children to inspire the next generation with his passion for music.

The sound of a dream

Ban is a 56-year-old pianist. She has been playing the piano for more than 30 years. Islamic State terrorists captured Mosul when she became an academic piano instructor. She describes the period between 2003 and 2017 as challenging for artists, as the city lost most of its musicians. Some left the country, some went into hiding, while others gave up and quit the art business.

After the fall of ISIS rule, Ban became the first woman to host a musical event at "Al-Qantara," one of the first cafes to serve as a cultural forum. "We experienced many years of oppression. I want to convey that I love my musical instrument and will not give up on my dreams," Ban says. She is currently a music teacher at the Mosul Institute of Fine Arts. 

"Music is a united global language of love and peace, and I want to serve my city through my work. The ISIS occupation has strengthened our love for Mosul and freedom. There are cultural events almost every day - theater performances, concerts, or book fairs," Ban enumerates.

Her last beautiful musical memories are from the early 1990s, before the Baath Faith Campaign. However, Ban now looks at things with hope. She participates in various cultural events in the city and runs a free piano course for women and girls. 

Ban Chakib plays the piano with Karim Wasfi, conductor of the Peace Through Arts Farabi Orchestra, during a concert in Mosul, Iraq. Photo: Ari Jalal / Reuters / Forum

From the graveyard to the cultural life

Harith Yasin, 33, is an engineer and co-founder of one of Mosul's first mixed-gender cultural cafes called "The Book Forum." At the beginning of the ISIS occupation, he and his brother ran a computer repair outlet. Three years later, when the operation to retake Mosul from the terrorists was underway, Harith and two of his friends volunteered to bury the bodies of civilians. 

The fighting left thousands of casualties in the streets and under rubble. When the battle dust settled, Harith and his friend Fahad Sabah opened "The Book Forum." "It's a center for bringing artists together. I wanted to help my community and provide a safe space for writers and readers after years of oppression." 

Each year "The Book Forum" becomes more popular and hosts more cultural events. "Before, we were all terrified because ISIS members were everywhere. But now we feel safe. After all, Mosul was declared the second safest city in Iraq in 2021. People were thirsty for the sense of security we enjoy today. They want to experience freedom, express themselves openly and show their talents without fear," he stresses. 

Mosul's young residents are now taking every opportunity to help rebuild their city. Many have founded non-profit organizations, theater groups, or orchestras.

Revitalizing the city's soul through art

Sulaik Salim is a 45-year-old musician, actor, and theater teacher. He recalls that when the Faith Campaign began, Mosul residents were too poor to pay attention to the arts, a situation exacerbated by the rampant extremism in the city. After the US invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, Al-Qaeda banned all artistic activities and killed several artists. 

"After 2006, they started referring to us, artists, as infidels and forced us to disavow art," he recounts. The situation improved somewhat between 2009 and 2011 due to local elections, which allowed Sulaik to stage plays at the Institute of Fine Arts in secrecy. However, he could only invite trusted people to the performances due to threats from jihadists.

Following the defeat of the Islamic State, Sulaik began working with a syndicate of artists to revitalize the city's soul. It resulted in the first short film titled "Don't Tell Angelina," referring to the visit of Angelina Jolie, UNHCR's special envoy, to Mosul in June 2018. Subsequently, Sulaik and his colleagues were able to produce several other short films due to support from UNESCO and the European Union, which provided the filming equipment. 

Sulaik believes that art has no boundaries. However, the local community is not yet ready to embrace and fully open up to it. It is because Mosul has been a battleground for many years, and the community has been affected by the ISIS extremist ideology.

Men play backgammon near colorful murals painted by artist Fares Shamou Bibani on the walls of houses, in Mosul. Photo: Khalid Al-Mousily / Reuters / Forum

Remedy for war trauma and extremism

The war against artistic freedom in Iraq intensified in 1993 with the campaign to Islamize the country. It took nearly a quarter-century before artists in Mosul gained greater freedom to pursue art. And despite the hardships of rebuilding the city, they take every opportunity to organize cultural events. 

After years of oppression, artists can finally express their artistic passion. Owing to them, paintings have replaced ISIS slogans on city walls, music has replaced ISIS occupation proclamations, and theater has replaced the scenery of public executions.

It is what the liberation of art in Mosul is all about.