The Dialogue Knights team visited the Old City of Mosul, where members toured the Grand Mosque, the Al-Hadba Minaret, and Hosh Al-Bay‘a, as well as the Baytna Museum. The team was received by Father Raed Adel, who provided a detailed explanation of the churches of Hosh Al-Bay‘a, their history, and the ongoing reconstruction efforts in line with their historical depth and symbolic significance in Mosul after liberation from ISIS.
Participants also visited the Al-Tahira Church and the Clock Monastery, newly restored and reopened for worshippers yesterday. The tour included a visit to the Al-Khayma Foundation, which provides cultural and educational services to Mosul’s residents of all backgrounds in the field of peacebuilding.
The team continued their visit with the Baytna Foundation, where they were welcomed by Mr. Saqr Al-Zakaria, the head of the foundation. Discussions focused on the role of civil society and women in rebuilding peace and dialogue in Mosul, as well as the challenges faced in promoting diversity. Participants also explored the Baytna Museum, learning about the city’s heritage, media, and cultural symbols.
The Dialogue Education Program is organized by Masarat for Cultural and Media Development in cooperation with KAICIID and the House of Coexistence under the slogan “With Dialogue, We Remain and Advance.” It was launched in Baghdad in early May with the participation of youth from Sinjar, later joined by youth from Baghdad in its first phase. The program then moved to Basra, where local youth joined the team before traveling together to Dhi Qar, where youth from Nasiriyah also participated. The journey has now reached Nineveh, as part of a program aimed at promoting dialogue as a mechanism for peacebuilding among followers of different religions and rejecting hate speech.
