Baghdad -INA
Ayoub Dhunoun, an activist from Mosul and head of the Mosul Heritage Foundation, was awarded the ISESCO-Azerbaijan "Natavan" Award for Excellence in Heritage in the individual category. This award recognizes his efforts in protecting Mosul's heritage and working to revive the city's architectural and cultural memory after years of war and destruction.
Dhunoun told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "This honor represents international recognition of a collective effort that began in the alleyways of Old Mosul, where heritage protection transformed from a cultural concept into practical action involving specialists, volunteers, and residents of the city."
He added, "This award is not merely a personal achievement, but rather an appreciation of a collective journey that believed heritage is not just a past preserved in photographs, but a force that helps cities rebuild their lives and futures." He emphasized that "this honor has increased my responsibility towards Mosul, its heritage, and its people."
The award was presented during the international conference "Heritage Management in Times of Conflict," organized by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) at its headquarters in Rabat. The conference also featured the opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to Mosul, titled "Mosul: From Destruction to Revival," showcasing images of the city's recovery and return to normalcy.
In the category of institutions and projects, the Hebron Reconstruction Committee in Palestine won first place for its project "Restoring Shops in the Old City of Hebron," receiving a $100,000 grant. The project was selected as a model that combines heritage preservation with the promotion of the local economy in a region facing the challenges of conflict.
The ISESCO-Azerbaijan “Natavan” Prize, with a total value of $130,000, is awarded for projects and $30,000 for individuals. Launched by ISESCO in partnership with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the prize is named after the prominent Azerbaijani poet Khurshidbanu Natavan and aims to honor initiatives and practices dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of tangible cultural heritage in the Islamic world.
According to ISESCO, the prize seeks to raise awareness of the social and economic dimensions of heritage protection and to celebrate best practices in its management, particularly in cities and regions affected by conflict or experiencing exceptional circumstances.
The first edition of the prize saw 54 nominations from 22 member states of the organization.
Dhunoun is a prominent figure in the Mosul Heritage file, having worked with the Mosul Heritage Foundation, which focused on preserving the city's cultural and architectural memory and organizing documentation, community, and training initiatives that brought heritage back to the forefront of public life after years of devastation.
The Mosul Heritage Foundation indicates that its mission is based on contributing to the protection of the heritage of Mosul, Nineveh and Iraq, and building community awareness related to identity and cultural memory.
